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15 Copp's Land Owner 1 (1888-1889)

handle is hein.journals/coplndow19 and id is 1 raw text is: COPP'S LAND OWNER. VOL. XV. WASHINGTON, D. C., APRIL 1, 1888. No. 1. THE LAND-OWNER presents its readers- with an excellent like- ness of Assistant Commissioner S. M. Stockslager, who has been nominated by the President as Commissioner of the General Land Office. The only fault to be found with this likeness is in the unnatural color of the hair and beard, as Commissioner Stockslager is of a nervous-san- guine temperament. The land service is heartily congratulated on this evidence of the President's wisdom in se- lecting so able, energetic and honest a man for this responsible position of Commissioner of the General Land Office. There are few offices under the government that control so many employees, and none that are more impor- taut. The salary of the Commis- sioner ought to be at least $6,000, in view of his quasi judicial, as well as ministerial duties, whichf are onerous and exacting. The new Commissioner was born in Indiana in 1842, passed through the common schools and the State University at Bloom- ington; taught school for a brief period; was a gallant officer of the 13th Indiana Cavalry, and re. HON. STROTHER M. STOCKSLAGER. NOMINATED AS COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE. ceived promotion for his bravery and meritorious services; was appointed Assessor of Internal Revenue by President Andrew Johnson; studied law and was admitted to the Bar in 1871, in Corydon, where lie has since resided. Has had considerable newspaper experience, having edited the Corydon Democrat. Was elected as Representative to the Forty-seventh Congress, and re-elected to the Forty- eighth, and refused a nomination to the Fiftieth Congress. He is very popular in Indiana, and that State may insist on sending him to the United States Senate. Since his entry into the Gen- eral Land Office in 1885 as As- sistant Commissioner, he has de- monstrated his entire fitness for the position of Commissioner. His executive ability is acknowl- edged. He is firm yet affable, and studies carefully before pro- mulgating his views. He is con- siderate and sympathetic with his subordinates, but will not toler- ate any abuses. His honesty is beyond reproach, and, aided by the experience of his predeces- sor, he will make his administra- tion a shining success. WHERE IS THE BLAME? On the last page of this issue of the LAND OWNER will be found some interest- ing tables showing the cast per acre of entering public lands. From these tables we take the following figures: Acres disposed of Appropriation Year. exclusive of for clerical filings, service. 1875 . 7,070,271 $224,560 1876 . 6,524,326 225,560 1877 . 4,849,767 227,864 1878 . 8,686,178 213,640 1879. 9,333,383 220,360 1880. 14,792,371 273, 220 1881. 10,893,097 273,220 1882 - 14,309,166 312,820 1883 . 19,430,032 373,856 1884.. 27.531,170 411,650 1885 20,995,515 484,850 1886 . 22,124, 563 484,850 1887 . 25,858,038 481,406 1888. ... ......... . 481,050 The object of presenting the above table is to demonstrate the pressing need of a largely increased clerical force in the General Land Office, and we trust that Our contemporaries, and all interested will join us in urging upon Congress this self-evi- dent fact. The present blockade in the Land De- partment was caused by the disposal of 27,000,000 acres in 1884. Instead of $650,000 for a clerical force sufficient to handle the enormous business, only $484,. 850 was appropriated for 1885. Here was blunder No. 1, which cannot be charged to the present administration. But in the following year, instead of remedying this mistake, there was no increase in the ap- propriation, and a considerable part of the clerical force was employed in re-examin- ing the work done in previous years. This error of the first year of the new administration ought to have been discov- ered during the second year. On the con- trary, notwithstanding more than twenty- two millions of acres had been disposed of, the appropriation was actually reduced ! In the following year, notwithstanding nearly 26,000,000 had been disposed of, (about four millions more than during the previous year), the appropriation for 1888 was, strange to say, still further re- ducedI Whether these serious mistakes shall be charged to Congress or to the General Land Office, the lamentable fact remains that a very large increase in the clerical force of the General Land Office is needed to bring up the back work. We believe Commissioner Stockslager appreciates the fact that the people of this country judge an administration by what it accomplishes. The amount of business well done is the standard, not how cheaply done. PRACTICE. CANCELLATION OF PRIVATE CASH ENTRIES AND RELINQUISHMENTS OF HOMESTEAD AND PRE-EMPTION ENTRIES. ACTING COMMISSIONER STOCKSLAGER to the Register and Receiver, Bloomington, Nebraska, March 13, 1888. The local officers have no power to can- cel private cash entries, the relinquish- ment of which must be referred to this office for action. In regard to pre-emp- tion, homestead or timber-culture entries, you will be governed by the 1st section of Act of May 14, 1880. Under the decision

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