Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-05

the, Indians there could be no question
ss TO the above described method
heing the prorer one to adopt in the
dispf sltion thereof. In my opinion,
however. the Indians have no interest
In these Utah lands. Ii there is not
sufficient agricultural lands within the
limits Of tho Utah reservation to pro-
vide for their allotments under the
agreement OF 1880, the government
would be under obligation TO furnish
Agricultural lands elsewhere for aliot-
ment TO the UDcompahgres.'
The secretary mskes no comment on
the work OF the Dawes Indian COM
mission, but includes IN the report
partial report oi the commission.
THE RAILROADS.
Under the head OF bOnd-aided rail-
roads, the secretary says he has COM
Piled with the Joint resolution OF June
10, 1886, requiring him TO continue the
issue ui patents to bona fdo purchasers
OF Innd sold by bond aided railroads,
hut no says he declined TO Issue patents
to all surveyed LANDS on the applica-
ton of the Central Pacific. DO says:
"The Representatives OF the Centfai
Pacific further commended their rohu le
not In default to the government, anu
that ~ It were the lands are rot COW
cred by the government mortgages
and cannot be held TO secure the same.
81 do not agree with either OF these
statements. The tables presented
clearly show that the Central racine
railroad is in default to the govern
ment, but whether 30 OF not II unques-
tionably will be on January let next,
or thirty days hence, when s2,4S2,OOo
additional OF its Indebtedness, toSether
with thirty years interest thereon, VIII
tall due aud must be redeemed by the
government.
"In aoswer to the contention that
the government lien Is not secured by
the lands granted the Central anu
Union Pacific companies, section b oil
the Act OF 1862 provides that on the
refusal or failure Of company to re-
deem It's bonus or any part thereof the
secretary OF the treasury may take
possession Of all lande which at the
time Of said deisult shall remain in the
ownership Of the company. For the
bove reasons have declined to patent
lands TO the Union Pacific railroad or
the Central Pacific railroad, except In
cases where 1t can be shown that the
lands Tor which patents are asked have
been sold 10 bona-hde purchasers. Inas.
much as the subsidy bonds issued by
the government to aid In tue construc-
ton Of these roads are falling due from
time to time anu must be redeemed by
the government a. they mature, while
the roads are unable to reimburse the
treasury for the amount 30 paid, and
the further reason that q bill 10 now
pending In Congress providing Tor a
iunding OF this INDEBTEDNESS, deem IT
the part OF prudence for this govern
ment to retain Whatever property Of
the roads 1t may have In its possession
or in its control until there shall be
AN adjustment Of the amounts due the
government"
The secretary says he has requested
an opinion from the secretary OF the
treasury as to whether the Central
Pacific Ia in default, ana from the at.
torney-general ,as TO whether. II in
default, he 10 authorized TO patent lands
granted to bonu-sided railroads even
when they have been sold 10 bona-flde
purchaser. 1t will be noticed here that
tne secretary by implication questions
the authority Of the concurrent resolu-
ton directing him to continue the issue
OF patents.
RAILROAD DEBTS.
Referring to ths railroad commis-