Show lf v I F dit 1F JV Rlackmall ASHINOTOK July 1GIt is stated at tho I General Land Office that many complaints have been received charging certain land I grant railroads with thopcrsecntion of set tlqrs who have been awarded patents for ilandjtild by tho Department and courts l to have JenNiXcepted from the grants by prior clai reservations David H Brown of San Bernardino county California who II states that Ws 1 own case is similar to man others and whose homestead entry was J I patented in accordance with the Supreme Court decision in the case ofNehall vs Sanger say ho has been sued intho Unjted I StatesiCirouit Jourt by the SoulberaPacifio i Kailrpad Company which offers t compromise com-promise with him for 1300 Brown says t the company relies upon the railroad judges of California and that the expenses of suits are so heavy that sattlers cannot afford togo to-go to the Supreme Court of the United States Commissioner Sparks has advised Brown that the law in this case is thorough ly well settled by repeated decisions of the highest judicial tribunals and that the suits by the railroad company brought for the purpose of extorting a compromise and fie I curing payment for land to which the company com-pany has no shadow of right or lawful claim are in his judgment in the nature of blackmail or malicious prosecution for which criminal action will probably lie against the agents of the companies and advised that the settlers consult competent coansel and avail themselves of all the remedies rem-edies the law affords In the event that tho case gaes to the Supreme Court the Commissioner Com-missioner states that he will consider the propriety of requesting the AttorneyGen oral to intercede in behalf of the United States |