The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-06-28
GENERAL TELEGRAMS.
Representative Cobb States the LAW on TIT
Northern Pacific Land Forfeiture.

Representative Cobb states the LAW on the
Northern Pacific Land Forfeiture.
Special to the Sentinel:
WASHINGTON, June 22.-While a majority
OF the newspapers throughout the country
sustain the bill of Representative Cobb, of
Indiana, declaring forfeitures of certain
grants OF land to aid railroad
corporations in their enterprises
and which the Railrosd Companies have
not earned, there are many that howl about
justice, the good that these roads have done
the country, and say the lands should not
be taken from the Companies whether
earned or not. Several of the newspapers in
the Central States have given as a reason
why the forleitures should not be declared
that it will break many Companies that have
promoted civilization, etc.
To-day the Sentinel correspondent asked
Mr.. Cobb if the Government had retained
power to declare the lands forfeited, and if
be thought it expedient to, at this late day,
declare such forfeiture? He replied: ITO
both questions 1 answer affirmatively. The
Government did retain the power to declare
forfeitures when it made the grants, and it
is expedient now to declare such forfeiture"
ITO have earned the lands, when should
the Northern Pacific have been completed?'
'In 1874" replied Mr.. Cobb. The time,
however" he continued, twas extended by
Congress until 1877; subsequently, our Sec
rotary of the Interior, SchurE, without any
apparent authority, at the end of that time
again extended the time to July 4, 1879.
Still the road is not completed by, believe,
coo miles"
''Then you contend, and the majority of
the Judiciary Committee will argue by the
Townshend report, that the forfeiture was
actually made at the expiration of the last
extension of time-July 4, 1872
Exactly so; and, further, that it really
needed no declaration by Congress to put
the forfeiture on record. But that is the
way we get at such things now-by special
acts. The law for this statement will be
found in the land laws enacted by the Forty
sixth Congress"
Mr.. Cobb is one of the leading lawyers of
Indiana in this class OF cases. He has had
charge of several prominent railroad cases
involving title to real estate, etc. He has
given the land forfeiture matter
profound study, and is confident
that he is right in his conclusions.
That he is honest there is no doubt He ar
CUES that, in point OF justice, it is right that
the forfeiture of these grants should be de-
clared that ample, aye, more than
ample time, has been given the North
ern Pacific, and despite the three liberal
extensions of time, the requirements yet
lack very much in being fulfilled. He says
he hears no prejudice against railroad cor
porations, but believes that the Government
has shown liniency far beyond approval by
private parties, and says he can see no rea-
son why the Government should throw
away its rich domains when the poor people
of the country are craving to lay hold of
them.
Whether the adoption of the report in
preparation by Mr., Townshend, declaring a
forfeiture, will pass at this session or not.
can not be fOretOld, but Mr.. Cobb believes
that if it is not passed before adjournment
IL must be adopted early In the next session /;
that law and public sentiment urge it, and
that it will be jobbery TO refuse to pass it.
The shape the matter is getting into is
causing a sensation in the stock markets ard
can not help soonlaffecting them.