The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-15

interest from per cent 10 per cent,
that purchasers will about as readily
give 81 as 81 per acre, as the annual
interest will be the same, provided a
long credit is extended, and forty
years are proposed by the bill. BY
raising the price as proposed, the prin-
clpal of the school fund will reach
about SSO,OOO,O00, and the interest at
4 per cent would aggregate more
than 100000 per year, or three
times as much as we now receive from
every source. In this connection |
call attention to the fact that there
are no enterprises in this state except
railroads that can borrow and use
money by millions; and it is wise to
sell the land on long time so as to af-
ford an Investment for the fund. If
we do not We will soon find a large
accumulation of cash in the treasury
bearing no interest. The committee
have reported lease bill favorably-
the one introduced. 1t provides that
the board of education may lease
any unsold land, at not less than three
cents per acre for terms not longer
than ten years Except timber land).
The income at this rate would be
about $50 per section, and the inter-
est at four per cent on 50 per acre
and taxes will give about $50 per
year. So the immediate income from
the sale is 200 per cent greater,
But we desire to pass both bills. We
propose them as separate bills, so that
the opponents of each system will not
combine TO defeat both systems, as
they might do if incorporated in one
bill. L am now and have always been
in. favor of a leasing system, in con-
nection with a sale system. The senate
has, at three sessions which | at
tended, passed leasing bills, introduced
by Inc. There is opposition by the
senator from Cooke and perhaps others
to protecting the actual settler by
giving him the preference of pur-
chase. The committee favor giving
them the preference. 1t has always
been the policy of Texas (and it is Il
wise and statesmanlike One), TO Ell
courage actual settlers, encourage peo-
pie to buy and own their homes, and
few, if any, now seek to put the land
and property of the state in
the hands of the few, to the exclu-
sion of the many; and especially
to withdraw encouragement from
those who till the soil of the state and
watch its herds.
The pertinent question is, shall this
bill be sent back to the committee
1t will be useless, as they have con-
sidered it well and long, and will not,
in the absence of specific directions,
report different one. Let us discuss
it section by section and amend it To
suit the views of the majority. | re-
greet to witness this delay. Let lis act
Let us put off important matters nc
longer.
You ought to remember that this
land is now on the market at 81, 81
and So per acre, and that the sale is
suspended only temporarily. If you
do not pass this sale bill, is it now is
OF as it may be amended, after ninety
days from the adjournment Of this
session the old law will again become
operative and land on the market at
81 per acre. l trust the bill will not
be recommitted, but that we will act
on it and do so now.
Mr.. Terrell warned the senate that
three powerful influences were al
work to shape legislation in
disposing of the school lands: l.
The StOckmen, who desired O
lease system with nominal
rent. This would enable capitalists
and corporations to fence in the unoc.
cupied portion of the state. If this
cannot be done they naturally desire
lease law, fixing the rent so thigh
that no one would lease and free grass
would be the result. 2. The railway
companies, whose interest it is to
have the price of school lands placed
so high that no one will purchase, and
they would have monopoly of the
market. 3. Land spectators, who
have vast quantities to sell and whose
property would also be enhanced by a
high-price policy.
He contended that the state should
pursue just such policy in manag
ing the school lands as an individual
would, if, like the state, he expected
to live forever; that this demand fol
the immediate sale of the lane
on the one hand, or least
on the other, were both wrong
Place on the market these
lands, at such price and in such lin.
tied quantities that only the goot
lands will sell. In this way induce
the actual settlement of productive
| element on them, WhOSellabOr and set
Element will in the course of time en-
nance the price of the lands unsold
and this is just the policy an individ
ual would pursue who Wantet
in the end to realize the most money
| This should be done withOu
reference to its effect on the proper
ties of other persons or corporations
| He opposed the recommittal of tn,
bin. though said he would not vOt
| for it unless amended. He announces
that he would vote for no bill tina
permitted either individuals or cor
poraJions to purchase or lease who'll
counties of unsettled territory. Sucl
a policy would in the end organize an
other Ireland here in Texas, in tn
course of time. The example of olde
civilizations should warn us not tt
persist in policy that tended to ;
monopoly of the soil, the source o
life and of all prosperity; and h
would vote for no bill that did no
guard against this. and check Ian
ownership by corporations.
The speaker read at length froI
charters on file of nonresident Ian
corporations, showing the vast sum
already invested, and being investe
III pasture, covering, in some case
half a million of acres of land, an
appealed to the senate to arrest tn
tendency to monopoly by land corpOr;
lions. He also referred to the polio
of England against ecclesiastical e:
tablisments and corporations,It ito pre-
vent the monopoly of land
either. He warned the senate tia
a forty years lease, advocate
by some, would long before its expirs
ton find dissatisfied and povert
stricken population, clamoring fC
land and threatening around the hi
pastures the stability of government
tenn of lease and sale, he though
tied under either system. The speec
was lengthy and will be, at an earl
day, given in full.
| Mr.. Gooch in the chair.
A MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR,
Relating to the report of the superb
. tendent of the agricultural and M
, chanical college, was read, and on m,
!, ton of Mr.. Houston was, togetht
with the report, referred to the con
mittee on finance.
Mr.. Cooper reported the correct el
rollment of senate bills Nos. -, Sc, 3
, 140 and 81.
Mr.. Pfeuffer: A bill to permit ce
tain land certificates to be locate
within the territory reserved from l,
cation by the act of July IA, 1879.
On motion of Mr.. Harris, the senat
adjourned till Tuesday.