The Alamogordo news. (Alamogordo, N.M.) 1899-1912, 1900-01-18
LAS VEGAS LAND GRANT CASE
Movement With Farmers to Have
a Ten Cent Tax Placed on
OleOmargarine.
RECRUIT NAVY TO FULL Strength.
Pension Claims on Account Of the Spanish
American War Being Filed-AbOut
Twenty-Five Thousand
Now In.

NpW In
Special Correspondence to THE News:
Washington, d. c., January IA
famous case involving the title to over
81, 900, 600 worth of lands in New Mexico
has recently been decided by the SUI
preme court of the District of Columbia.
The case dates back to the year 1889
In that year the surveyor general of
New Mexico reported to congress in
favor of the validity of the Las Vegas
land grant, claimed by certain citizens.
The grant clearly belonged to these
citizens if it belonged to anyone, but
through some error, the report asserted
that it belonged to the corporation of
the town of Las Vegas, where these
claimants resided. The report was con-
firmed bv congress and ever since the
individual claimants have been trying to
get it reversed by the department OF in
terror or by the courts. All have de-
cided in favor Of town. the district court
holding that the approval by congress
made the allotment mandatory and that
there was nothing left for the interior
department to do except to award the
lands as ordered.
The commissioner of internal revenue
has decided that where person, though
not otherwise dealer in oleOmargarine,
at the request of another orders Orgi-
nal manufacturers packages of Oleo-
margarine, and the manufactures ships
the packages to him and charges
them to him. and looks vi iaiiSa for pay
therefor, and he receives these pack
ayes and delivers them to the person
at whose request he sent such orders,
collecting of the latter the purchase
money, he must be regarded as having
bought the oemargarine on his own
account and as having sold it, and, there
fore, must be regarded as a wholesale
dealer in oleomargarine and required
to pay special tax accordingly even
though that he show that he acted
solely for the accommodation of the
person to whom the OleOmargarine was
delivered by him, and that he derived
no profit therefrom.
The bill prepared and introduced by
Senator Foraker of Ohio, for the gov
ernment of Porto Rico, is not intended
to be pushed to passage in its present
form. 1t was introduced so that it
could be printed for the information
of all concerned, and Senator Foraker's
committee will be glad to listen to any
information or criticisms that will en-
able it to improve it's provisions.
Neither the president nor the secretary
of war have as yet studied the bill,
though both are, of course, familiar
with its general provisions. General
Davis, governor of Porto Rico, who is
now IN the city, will also go oyer it
carefully with the eesnmittee, and it is
Expected to make nunbsf q altera-
tiOns.
The president is in receipt Nf urgent
protests against his pardoGas > wilkins
and Butler, the two men sentenceuS for
violating the oleomargarine law. Thef
S very strong movement on Ioot
among farmers and dairymen to secure
he passage of an act by congress plac-
ng a tax of 10 cents pound on 0leo-
margarine which is colored as butter
he process which permits 1t being In
posed on the public as genuine butter.
rhe 1O-cent tax will force oleomargar-
ne to sell for what it is and two indus
ries will be placed on an equal footing.
Another effort made by the navy de-
Dartment to recruit the navy to Its full
strength will, 1t is hoped be successful.
rhe cities of the great lakes will be
/ scotirad for men. About 2,500 seamem
!, and 500 apprentices are needed, and
d it is hoped they can be secured from the
middle west. It-was decided today by
Secretary Long to open recruiting
D. station at Cleveland.
Dr. Tarleton II. Bean, director Of
u forestry and fisheries to the Paris ex-
r position, says that a part of the United
r States forestry display at the Paris ex.
10 position, made by Americanlumbermen
s. will be a typical American mill, and
have in it every variety Of wood deall
in or exported. Even the Shingles
will be American made and come from
re different sections, from Maine to Cali
r. fornia.
The civil service cOmmlsSl0ns IA 81
. annual report to be issued next Neel
~ will saw that the civil service Law Is be-
Y ing more generally conformed 10 thar
. ever before. II shows that the rem0va
X of employees, based upon Its sNatlstic
" for this year, now average Slightly less
. than per cent of the whole numheF d
\ classified places.
y This negroes in the District of r0lum
bia, who constitute a large .element o
X the population met this year lur th,
~ first time on New Years day u eele
brate the S7th, annlversary 81 thoi
X emancipation. This is the date 0i
~ which the proclamation tooA effect. Til
= date on which ii was issued has Is
X some years been celebrated hefs.
II Claims for pensions on aeeount 81 ii
- Spanish war are being fi!ad mach nor
y rapidly than was the ease Immediate
~ after the civil war. ThIsIz a6lflbuia
~ by the officials Of the panSI8n otIIee /
n the greater activity d the nansi0
~ J agents. Up to date thafs hsgo bee
@ about 81, 900 Spanish W e|S|as died.