The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-01-23
MIR. HAwLEY AND THE LAND GRAB

THE WEEKLY ARGUS Of this WeeA' ooh-
tain lengthy telegram from Washington
In regard 10 a most outrageous land grab
nerpe+ro,ed pnop the people of Iowa, by
our Mr. HawIey. and in which it is charged
that $50. 1000 was paid for getting the bill
through Congress, How much of this
sum Mr.. Hawley got, or whether he got
any, we leave to our readers TO guess. We
make, however, a few extracts from the
official proceedings Of the House, showing
that, under the rules, Mr. Hawley pre-
vented the opponents of the bill from dis
cussing it in the interest of the United
States, or presenting the objections Of the
people Of Iowa 10 its passage
LAND TITLES IN IOWA
The next business on the Speakers table
was the bill Is. No. 1919 20 quiet title TO
certain lands in the State of Iowa.
Mr.. Hawley of Illinois. | ask that this
bill be now put ON its passage.
The Speaker. The question is on order
ing the bill 10 a third reading.
Mr. Mccormick, of Missouri. | desire
to move to refer the bill TO the Committee
on the Judiciary.
The Speaker The gentleman from Hi
nois Mr.. Hawleyl is entitled TO the floor.
Mr.. Hawley then proceeded with long
speech in favor of the bill, during which
the following occurred;
Mr. Mccormick, of Missouri VIII the
gentleman from Illinois give way for a ques-
tiOu2
Mr. Hawley, of Illinois | will when |
have concluded what desire 10 say.
Mr.. Mccormick, of Missouri. My ques-
ton is in reference 10 the letter which has
just been read
Mr.. Hawley, of Illinois prefer not 10
yield until have concluded the statement
which desire to make.
Refusing to yield, Mr.. Hawley went ON
for a long time, when the following DC.
Cured
Mr. Speer Will the gentleman have
the kindness to state what is the nun.
Der Of acres 70 which the title is in dis
pute2
Mr.. Hawley, Of Illinois. | have nc
means Of knowing have nothing from
the Land Commissioner which would settle
that question.
Mr. Mccormick, of Missouri. | would
like to speak upon this subject.
Mr. Hawley, of Illinois For how long
Mr. Mccormick, of Missouri. | would
like half an hour.
Mr.. Hawley, of Illinois. | have but
eighteen minutes remaining | will WELD
ten minutes 10 the gentleman; and If the
previous question be seconded, will yield
large portion of my time b gentlemen on
the other side | desire 10 retain the floor
for the purpose Of demanding the previous
question.
Mr. Stevenson. | cannot consent to
have the previous question ordered We
propose To refer this bill to the Judiciary
Committee, in order that the legal right,
Of the Government may he considered.
Mr.. Mccormick, of Missouri. That i
the motion | wish 70 submit | desire
that the Judiciary Committee shall investi
gate this matter, and that this railroad
company shall receive every acre of lane
TO which il is entitled. Do / understand
the gentleman from Illinois Mr.. Hawley
to yield 10 me2
Mr.. Hawley, Of Illinois For ten min
utes
Mr. Mccormick, of Missouri. | thinl
MIR. Speaker, that even in the brief tim,
allowed me / can present this question t,
the House so that members may under
stand distinctly what they are voting upon
In lojt a grant of land was made IN builC
the Rock Island and Pacific railroad acros
the State of Iowa This was grant n
six sections ~ the mile with an indemnit,
limit Of fifteen miles on each side of tn
road, Ia 1904 that company came 10 Con
gress and asked tor additional legislation
10 asked IN the first place to be permitte,
t. change its line of location. 10 make
DETECTION southwark about twenty O
twenty-five miles from the line first located
IL has also asked Congress TO increase il
grant from six sections 70 the mile 10 tei
sections IN the mile and u extend the in
demnity limit from fifteen miles to tyeut
miles. The company also PROPOSED that
instead Of combining itself to alternate sec
tious, it should take both odd and eve
numbered sections 50 far as might be nee
cssary to give il ten sections tn the mile
Now this is the whole legislation from
the beginning to the end They did locat
their lands in 1901 They did obtain IN
additional land They did obtain the priv
ilege Of going, b. indemnify themselves
twenty miles on either side of the road in
stead Of fifteen miles They did Obtain
the privilege vt selection in reference :,
the odd and even number of sections. |,
making this new location there wer,
ninety-two thousand acres of land whicl
had been embraced in the first location
Now it Is in reference IN these ninety tw
thousand acres, or perhaps it would b
more correct 70 say one hundred thousanl
acres, this question arises. These ON
hundred thousand acres Of land, then. Ii
north Of the exterior limits of twenty.6v
miles Of the line Of this road as locate,
and constructed. Now this company come
To- congress, long after il completed thi
road, long after the road had become
paying road, tor the stock has been duotet
all the way from no % lis and Ilg an,
asks us 20 grant it these one hundre,
thousand acres which were embraced il
the hrst survey Of the road and which
would have belonged to them if they had
not changed the original location Of the
line Of their road
Vow, MIR, Speaker, what propose i n
refer this whole subject to the Commute,
on the judiciary, a committee composed o
eminent lawyers Of the House. who shall
be directed to report back by bill or other
wise 70 give this road every acre Of Ian,
granted by the Congress Of the Unite,
States TO which it may be entitled undo
both of these acts which may be open L
settlement.
And it must not be forgotten. Mr.
Speaker, that there are a great number o
citizens IN that country who are desirou
Of obtaining lands and building up house
for themselves Settlers have gone Their
and settled upon the lands embraced il
this controversy Ii is in effect a contes
between the poor men Of Iowa, who wan
homes tor themselves and their families
and this railroad corporation, which ha
already received grant from the Govern
ment Of the United States. and which !,
now a prosperous company. N we are I,
judge by the value Of it, stock in IN,
market
This is a concise statement Of the Who'll,
subject. What is proposed is wron,
which this house ought not to do to tn
people Of Iowa, 10 the laboring people a
Iowa who wish homes on these lands
These are valuable lands. The climate i
salubrious and the soil fertile. The coun
try is beautiful in appearance. / appeal
therefore, to the House, in behalf Of th
poor men Of that country not To do tbi
act Of injustice H. them i'm behalf of cor