The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-12-05

cd being the proper one TO adopt in
disposition thereof. In my opinion.
however, the Indians have no interest
in these Ulah lands. IL there Is not
sufficient agricultural lands within the
limits of the Utah reservation To pro-
vide for their allotments under agree
ment OF lSS0 the government would be
under obligation 10 furnish agricultural
lands elsewhere for allotment to the
Uncompaghres." The secretary makes
no comment on work OF the Dawes In
dian commission, but Includes In his
report partial report OF the commits
sion.
Under the head of bond-aided rail-
roads the secretary says he has COM
piled with the joint resolution OF June
10. 1896, requiring him 10 continue the
issue of patents 20 bona fide purchas-
ers of lands sold by bond-aided rail-
roads. but, he says, he declined to issue
the patents to all surveyed E-.ids on
application of the Central Pacific. He
says: THE representatives OF the Gem
tral Pacific further Contended their
road Is not In default to the govern
ment and that II II were. the lands
are not covered by government mort
cages and cannot Be held 10 secure the
same.
II do not agree with either of these
statements. The tables presented clear
~ show the Central Pacific read ts IN
default to the government, but whether
IL Is 50 or not IL unique stionably Win De
on Jan. I next, 30 days hence, when
s., $4,000 additional indebtedness, to-
gether with 80 years interest thereon.
will fall due and must be redeemed by
the government, In answer To the con-
tention that the government lien Is not
secured 10y lands granted To the Cen
trail and Union Pacific companies. sec
tion of the act OF 1862 provides that
ON refusal on failure OF the company
To redeem Its bonds. or any part there
OF, the secretary NJ the treasury may
take POSSESSION of all lands which at
the time of said default shall remain
I'm the ownership OF the company. For
the above reasons l have declined to
patent the lands To- the Union Pacific
railroad or the Central Pacific railroad
except in cases where IL can be shown
that the lands for which patents are
asked have been sold to bona ilde pur-
chasers Inasmuch AS the subsidy
bonds issued by the government to aid
in the construction Of these roads are
falling due from time TO time. and
must be redeemed by the government
unable to reimburse the treasury for
the amounts 81 paid and for the fur
ther reason that bill Is now pending
in congress providing for funding this
Indebtedness. | deem II a part OF pru-
dence for this government to retain
whatever property of the roads " may
have In Its pos ossesSion or In its control
until there shall be adjustment of the
amount due the government"
The secretary says he has requested
an opinion from the secretary OF the.
| treasury as To whether the Central Pa
cific Is In default and from the attor-
ney general as to whether. II In de-
fault. he Is authorized to patent lands
granted to bond-aided railroads even
when they have been sold TO bona flde
purchasers. II will he noticed here
that the secretary. by implications.
questions the authority Of the concur
rent resolution directing him TO con-
| tinuc the Issuance OF patents Re-
ferring TO the. railroad commissioners
recomme endations for "a commission Ia
settle the Indebtedness OF bond-aided
roads. the secretary says Congress Is
not likely to delegate 10 any commits
sion the power 10 settle this Indebted
ness without making such n settle
ment subject to It's approval but
whether congress would do 50 or not.
the delay consequent upon the appoint
ment OF commission and its work
would be 30 great that most or all OF
the bonds issued In aid of these roads
would mature and the government be
called upon to redeem them. In the
meantime other bills would be intro
duced seeking 10 effect other settle
| ments, and In the end the government
| would receive less for its claim than
II would VI compromise by u cash
payment VI a lump sum should oe ef-
fected In the immediate future and the
government become relieved thereby
from all connection with these roads
| This Indebtedness has been the subject
OF attempted legislation for many years
past. and II seems impossible to frame
any renewal or extension of the loan.
which will be acceptable to both legls.
lators and the Indebted companies. A
funding OF the debt which contcmplates
the government accepting longtime
bonds for It's advances, will not re-
move this troublesome subject from the
consideration OF congress and would
| probably result In renewed measure
for the relief of roads being propose
as thosc bonds approach maturity.
| 'ln my judgment II Is much better
| for the government to accept lumr
sum In cash for its Salm against
these roads II by doing 50. that claim
can be settled and the connection be.
tween the government and the only
roads Il has ever aided by direct sub
sidy be effectually severed. Such a SO.
lunlon Of this vexed question would
meet the hearty approval OF the peo-
pie genenlly and relieve Legislators
and all branches Of the government ot
a troublesome problem and trying re-
|