Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-01
HOUSE.
3.25S, 600 Acres OF Timber.

The bill giving an extension OF time to
/ the State of Wisconsin for The completion
| of the railroad from Lake st. Crolx to Lake
! Superior was taken up, the question being
j on ordering it to third reading.
/ Mr.. Holman asked the unanimous con-
sent to have the bill debated for an hour.
Mr.. Peters objected.
! 3Ir. Stevenson asked leave to read letter
! from the Commissioner on Public Lands.
Mr.. Schofield objected to anything in the
nature of debate on fi!Gbustering.
Mr.. Cox said they would not fillibuster
/ if Mr.. Holmau's amendment were allowed
I to be offered. :
Mr.. Holman asked to read q communica-
ton from laboring men.
! Mr.. Seofield objected.
| Mr.. Hanks moved to reconsider the vote
I by which the main question was ordered.
! a motion TO table the motion to recon-
slider was rejected. Yeas 81, nays 81.
The vote ordering the main question was
/ then reconsidered. Yeas l01, nays So.
Mr.. Holman moved to refer the bill to
the Committee on Iublic Lands with in-
structions to amend it so as grant to Wis
cousin all the lands specified which would
enure to the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company under existing laws if grant were
not renewed.
Mr.. Cox argued In favor of Holman's
motion. He referred to the constant
growth of public opinion against railroad
land grants, citing OH that point the plat
form of
Both Political Parties
in California, Indiana, Ohio, West Nir-
.ginia and Of the late labor convention at
Columbus. Members of Congress who
were recreant to the public sentiment on
this point would not only hear from the
people in general, but especially from the
workingmen Of the country.
Mr.. Stevenson spoke of creating mOnOpO-
lies by giving away timber lands which
were said TO be Of no value, and then
creating
New MODOpOIies
by putting tariff on lumber SO as to make
these timber lands valuable, and said that
if Congress did not stop this policy of land
grants, in obedience to the people, he be-
lieved and trusted the people at their next
opportunity would make Congress stop it.
Mr.. Hay agreed with Mr.. Stevenson that
it was the duty of every Representative to
signalize his opposition in the most en-
phatic manner to the
Robbery of the National Domain,
and let every member record his vote aye
or no, whether the railroad land grant
policy should cease or not.
Mr.. Speer, of Pennsylvania, took the
ground that the public domain should be
Kept for poor people and for soldiers who
had fought for and maintained the Govern
ment.
Mr.. Holman declared that this bill, which
affected three and quarter million acres,
worth from fifteen to twenty dollars an acre,
was movement in favor of the Northern
Pacific Railroad. He referred to the demon
alizing influence of these land grants, citing
on that point the case of
ghe Kansas Senators
buying their seats through the means of
such grants, aud said that in order to test
the sense of the House, he should now move
to lay the bill on the table.
The motion TO lay on the table was re-
iected; yeas 81, nays 80.
Mr.. Beck then took the floor and de-
Tended his position in supporting the bill,
bis principal reason being that people had
settled along the line of the road, paying
the Government 81. so an acre for it on the
faith Of the grant. He could say to the
gentleman who had threatened the House
with the condemnation of the people, that
no labor convention, no intelligent laboring
man, no man who had the interest of the
country at heart would say that this land
should not be reserved to the people of
Wisconsin instead of being given to the
Northern Pacific Railroad.
After further discussion involving the
question whether
Col. Scott,
oF FI,a sCo,Yfno,,, Doo;Eo ho
Pennsylvania Central Railroads, was or
was not opposing this bill, and on which
opinions varied,-
Mia Holman again moved to lay on the
table. Rejected 81 to 81.
Mr.. Holman then moved to refer to the
Committee on Public Lands with instruc-
tons. Agreed to, yeas 102, nays II.
Mr.. Hazleton asked for the Committee to
have leave TO report at any time.
Mr.. Cox and others objected.
House adjourned.