The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-02
GET YOUR MONEY BACK
ON SOME RAILROAD GRANT LANDS
Mr.. Merriam Finds Hard Work in
Cutting Down the Census
Force.


From Tho Journal Bureq~. Room rs, Post
Building, Washington
Washington. June 2.-Representative
Moody of Oregon has submitted favora-
BILE report on a bill which Is now on
the house calendar that has for its pur-
pose the repayment Of a portion OF the
purchase price paid by settlers for lands
included within the limits Of railroad
grants, but through which the grantees
never constructed their roads. 1t states
that the government by statute fixed the
price for it's public lands at $1.25 per acre.
To aid, in the construction of certain
proposed railway lines, the price of the
land in the reserved sections within these
limits was raised to the double mini
num-" or $3.50 an acre. Mr.. Moody says
that they acted In good faith and that the
failure Of the companies to construct the
roads reduced the lands taken by them to
the value of others around them. Mr..
Moody argues frdSn this that these set
tiers are entitled to be reimbursed to the
extent of half the purchase money and
urges the passage of the bill.
The bill will benefit all settlers who
weut on railroad grants between March
3, 1875, and Feb. %, 1885. 1t includes
grants in Oregon, Washington and states
farther east.
OF Use to the Insurgents.
Inc OIQeT Gay the SeudLe dppOluISu O.
committee to confer with similar COM
mittee from the house regarding house in
structions. Should the house make its
point good, and establish the precedent
that he has the right to instruct its cons
ferees not to concur In senate amend
ments to house bills, the theory of free
conferences between the two houses will
be knocked into cooked hat; but what
is more important just at this time, that
precedent will afford the house in
surgents and democrats an opportunity
| to prevent Cuban tariff legislation. The
gentlemen who compose these obstructing
| forces in the house have been quick to see
| their opportunity. They say that when
the senate Cuban bill reaches the house,
and conference is asked, they will have
| enough votes to instruct the house con-
ferees not to concur in the senate amend
| nents to the house bill. That would
mean, If successful, no legislation at this
session of congress, and no legislation at
any session, SO long as the insurgents and
| the democrats are In control. -
Hard Work for Merr1am.
Director Merriam is earning his salary
| a hundred times day these times. For
a month past he has been engaged in the
| unpleasant but necessary task OF cutting
| down the census force from its maximum
strength of 1000 to the 500 limit allowed
by the Dill establishing Inc permanent
| bureau. A score or more employees are
given notice to walk the plank, each
| Saturday afternoon, and about 500 are
still to be dismissed, The nearer the
500 limit of the permanent bureau the
harder the work, and Mr.. Merriam is
daily lodging right and left to escape the
friends and hackers Of dismissed clerks
who lie in wait by night and by day tc
| take him unawares. The tales of distress
| al nv he or
clerks would make stone image weep
but the director has been compelled tc
harden his heart and turn his face the
| other way. Mr.. Merriam has managed
himself in this time of stress and trouble
with dignity and discretion, and he viii
come out OF 1t with flying colors. He has
selected the permanent force from the
most eff1cient clerks in the temporary es-
/ tablishment, and will have staff O
1 which he may we'll be proud after July !
] when the new law will go into effect.
w. W. .Jermane