| Show JUST compensation DEMANDED WE publish today some correspondence pon dence from san juan county in relation to the treatment of settlers by the commission appointed to arrange for the transfer of indians from colorado to the aa san n ju juan an n region what we have published heretofore except editorially has been from outside sources we said at the time that the information presented by the articles from deniver papers was waa colored by the conflicting interests of the parties on either side of the controversy the Color adans on the one hand band desire the settlement of their utes upon utah soil the cattle men on this side of the border are opposed to the movement both act and write from personal motives the letter we now present shows on its face its sincerity and truthfulness ful ness the cormons mormons Mor mons 1 in the region designed as the dumping place of the colorado utes are bona akk aids settlers they went there to establish permanent homes homed they have no wish to remove but they will not oppose any meas rue of the government which is decided upon as necessary to its indian policy still they are not willing to sacrifice their improvements at a tenth or even a third of the value there is no reason why they should do so they should receive at least what their property Is worth the course of the commission in the light of this communication does not appear very commendable we were were aware that their report was very unfair to the san juan people but not that the injustice attempted was so glaring and excessive the fact that they are cormons mormons Mor mons has nothing to do with the merits of the question and would not influence any one but bigots and sectarians sect arians and those who permit prejudice to govern them in the discharge of public duties it must not be allowed to cut any figure in this indian movement justice would say that as this place is required for the public use full compellation compensation should be given to its possessors they maybe may be only squatters but they have gone upon pon the public domain in a legal way and have endeavored to acquire legal title the fault that the land has not yet been boffl dally surveyed is 18 not theirs they have tried for nine years to get it done nine years occupation with permanent improvements is pretty strong evidence of good faith and entitles them to the right of entry when the malmd nd comes into market the government cannot ignore the rights of these people nor lawfully compel their removal without affording just compensation for the private property thus taken for public use we do not believe that the authorities at washington will have any disposition to do 80 when the facts are properly represented our delegate in con aress reab has done what he could in matter the proposition to have some one at hand fully posted and spec specially lally authorize i to urge the claims of these settlers is wise and necessary congress must be appealed to intelligently and forcibly and if necessary the president will have to be personally informed as to the facts that no treaty may be ratified without provision for adequate remuneration to the people who vacate their possessions to make way for far the wards of the nation |
