The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-08

lands, for it is good business policy.
Large landed ownership is an evil in
itself, but | could, with silver dollar
lining, swallow this evil if the law
didn't permit these spectators tn
pick the good and east aside
the bad land. We allow them
to buy seven and control there
by seVenty-seven sections of land.
One of the senators says, What diff
ference does it make whose money we
get or where it comes from? This ar-
gument might ease the conscience of
the highwayman, but as practical as
claim to be this philosophy is too prac-
tical for me or my constituents.
| don't take my position because of
any sentiment. but because believe
this statute is in violation of sound
business principles and that we are
too Shrewd as individuals to deal in
this loose manner with our own prop
erty.
The district land surveyors and
their "pals" by this law are made more
than equal partners with the children
in this school fund, and are admitted
to this partnership without capital.
The district land surveyors are get
ting more in the way of bonuses
from spectators than the school fund
is realizing from the sales.
This law invites and encourages
frauds innumerable, and few men are
more honest than the laws of their
state. The state Is victimiZed more or
less in every transaction, and | would
not kick against an average steal.
These men in Il short time make ac-
tual settlers pay five dollars for one
dollar land. Now, what is to become
of our boast that every man can find
a good cheap home in Texas?
Senator Gooch Gnterrupting)-l
will say to the senator from Dallas
that when homes are exhausted in the
west they can come east to my
country.
Mr.. Gibbs-ThankS to the gentle
man for his suggestion; but the diff
Guilty is that the actual settler would
then either Starve to death, or live on
government patronage or dwarfed
COW peas.
The senator says that we had better
leave this law in force until we get Il
better. | say that my people
would rather let the land
lay than to so sacrifice it.
| see from the proceedings of farm
er'S convention in some northern
state they have declared that on their
valuable land they can no longer COM
pete with the west in stock raising.
Now, these men will lease our lands
on long terms and good prices, for the
interest on the money invested in
their own lands is one hundred times
a hnn
individual and the poor man Il
to the speculator. Let us go
down in our pockets for a little more
school money and not rob pOsterity
and pile up money that we can neither
spend nor invest. The railroads
have no advantage, aS charged by
the gentleman from Parker, and
when he says that. by reason of their
ownership of alternate sections, they
have the upper hand of the people. he
falls into Il common error. If these
railroads manifest spirit of Il citation
or unfair opposition to land policy
in the interest of the people, we can
make them come To terms very easily
and sell their lands; or do as the
state does and, if necessary to accom-
lish this end, can drive them to the
verge of bankruptcy. When il becomes
clearly a matter of self-preservation,
and the people rise in their power, OBJ
structionS of all kinds must yield. In
this country there is no necessity for
the people to bend the knee to cOrpor-
ate power, that thrift may follow
farming.
We can sell and lease these lands, and
make the good lease and sell the bad
land, and ] believe it is wisdom to
take them off of the market until we
or some other legislature devise Ilaw
to effect this. This is not the last and
may not be the best legislature ever
to assemble, and if we are not equal
to the task let us hand over the job
to our successors in Office.
The senator from Parker SAYS the
stock men will get free grass unless
we sell. Well, if we lease alternate
sections to our live Yankee immi-
his sheep will get their portion of the
grass. Give him a chance and pro-
lection and he will take care of the
results.
One of the senators to-day remarked
in connection with this seven section
feature, what if one man does by IN
evasion of the law get more than this,
what difference does it makel didn't
Gov. Roberts say in a public speech
that ut the time the bill was passed it
was known the stOckmen would do
this? Now, Mr.. President, if the ex-
governor did say this it was not Off
cial and is no argument in favor OF
the law, an(. must have been discover.
Ell by him after signing and the re.
mark made in weak moment, such as
come even to great men. | care moth
ing for his extra official opinion; and
if this law invites or permit frauds
as the rule and not as the exception
| this alone is Il sufficient reason for its
| repeal.
1t may be as beautiful in theory as
loves first dream, but the law is as
defective and disastrous in results as
a burSted savings bank.
If it would have even temporarily
checked the sacrifice of these lands,
| believe that my people would have
| sooner seen the land Office than the
capitol burned. If the senator from
Anderson (Gooch) will only reflect
upon his proposition that dollar now
is better that five later in life, he
will see how unjust he is to those for
| whom we hold this land in trust, sub
iect to a reasonable user but not tt
absolute ownership. l hayeno preju-
dice against the speculator or the stock
man, but want the children of Texas
now and hereafter to get all the gOOC
they can out of these lands. L don't
want my children to revel in affiuenct
and feel that my grandchildren will
thereby suffer poverty.
| In conclusion, l beg pardon of the
senate for occupying so much of theil
! time upon this and other occasions
and assure them that do so from aI
ardent, and, it may be, youthful de
sire to act upon these questions in the
interest of people who have evel
been kind to me-in the interest oi
the whole state.
| Mr.. Davis moved the previous ques
tiOn on the motion to suspend tht
rule. Ordered.
Motion lOst-Y eas, Is; nays, IL. A
two-thirds vote being requisite.
Mr.. StrattOn moved to make the
bill special order for Thursday, aftel
morning call.
Mr.. Houston moved to amend by
changing the time to Saturday, but
. withdrew his motion.
Mr.. Stratton's motion was lost
Yeas, l6; nays, IL. A twO-thirds vot,
being necessary.
Mr.. Terrell introduced a resolution
prohibiting persons who fail to pay
poll tax for the benefit of the publ,
free schools from voting in elections
1 Referred