The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-15
DAMAGLNG EXPOSURES.
The Operations of Land MOnOpOlists i'm
GOnRreaa.

Mr.. Clarke, OF Kansas, made o damaging
exposition III the House, on Wednesday, OF the
abuses OF the land grants OF Congress to corpo-
IatiOns.
Reviewing the public land system OF the
United States, he said the Presumption act OF
l84l laid bonds on the future. Tue acts OF
l853-54 gave stability 10 the homestead policy
and corrected abuses. Since the war closed
Congress has placed so, 000, 600 acres of public
lands IN Rebel States under tnat system. From
1862 to Juue 80 1867. entries under various acts
have covered 1000, 600 acres, total OF $1,000
farms OF 160 acres. Within the late insurrec
tiOUary States, in less than two years. 225,S40
acre. have been disposed Of under homestead
entries.
Alluding TO the advantages OF that system,
MIR. Clarke saId that 100000 600 acres OF the
pubic domain are still in tue hands of specula-
tors. In addition Government has donated to
Pacific railroads 124, 900 acres; other rail
Ioads, 67,000,000 acres. To the states, aud
already selected as swamp land, over 90, OOO,0OQ
acfeR. Nine million six hundred thousand
acres have been grained the States tor agric al
tural colleges, which have or will be sold by
scrip, and thus pass into the hands OF speed
lators. An enormous aggregate OF at least
225, ,000 000 acres is in the hands Ot railroads and
other railroad mouopoles. Properly settled, u
would yield $50 600 farms of l60 acres. Tue
puolc DOMAIN is trust we hold for the worlds
poor, aud no sound reason exists why II should
be thus despoiled.
MIR. Clarke denounced the practice of barter
ing away by the Senate, under the shaliow PEE
tense OF exercising treaty making power, OF
VBSJ udCib Ol lduu OCCupltu Wy luhIduS1 duu
said it had been done in respect OF Kansas
LANDS and others in the secrecy OF Executive
ses sion at the other end of the Capitol. Tue
control of the public lands is delegated to Con-
gress by express provision of Congress. One.
forlieth of the area OF Kansas has been ceded to
a few corporations and individuals by treaty.
II other pending treaties are ratified, oue-ninth
of the State will be similarly absorbed One
million seven hundred and seventy one thou
sand three hundred and fifty acres have thus
been granted TO few individuals, three OF
whom obtained about eight hundred thons and
acres.
He presented authentic tables showing the
status Of the Gage lands and the Cherokee
neutral lands, and said ii the pending O,age
ueaty shall be confirmed by the Senate, S,003.20
acres, enough to make 3d. 200 homesLeads OF 100
acres each, and sustain population OF 1000 600,
will be swallowed up by monopoly. He
alluded to the in ustce thus meditated against
Kansas, and declared that this gigantic attempt
10 plunder along with schemes already con-
sulDmated, would wrest from the settlers
9,744, $50 acres of land IN desirable portions OF
tue State, aud from Kansas values of not lese
than $50 100000. Though comparatively unde-
veloped to-day, greedy spectators, watching
the secret sessions OF the Senate, see in the vast
natural resources of Kansas colossal fortunes
easily secured through the corrupt chicaneTy oi
the treaty system,