Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-15
Rau eoapLANo GRANTS

MAN, OF INDIANA.
WASHINGTON, April 14.-One of the most
actiye men in the last Congress in his oppo-
sition to railroads was Representative Hol-
man, of Indiana. He was reelected to The
next Congress, and has strong hopes that with
a big Democratic msjority good deal can
be done to embarrass railroad enterprises
which are in sny degree dependent for their
prosperity or success upon grants OF land
from the general government. In recent
conversation Mr.. Holmsn bewailed the i'll
success of himself and Mr.. Robson in the
lsst Congress, which, he declared, "was not
organized for reform"
Being asked whether he thought the land
grant ques' ion would be pro ninent in the
next House, Mr.. Holman replied: 81 think
it will. A very large portion of the public
lands ia placed in jeopardy bs this system OF
Iaud grants and yst L fear people are not
alive 10 the importance the subject. The
system is in the main the result of legisla-
ZION In the last twenty-five years. Before
1861 less than 100000 acres had been
granted. The grants since that time amount
10 more than 49,, 100000 acres. Waving the
grant Of 81 100000 sores TO the Union Pacific
railroad, deny that any of the others grew
out ef any public reason or were designed,
except incidentally, if at all, to promote the
BupIlE AbNrftblhs
"How many miles of railroad are covered
or TO be covered BY this land grant-syst-m?'
Leaving out the Illinois Central and the
Mobile aud Ohio, about IA 900 miles Of rail-
road and telegraph Iihes"
Mr. Holman then went into long ex-
plaHation Of the terms aad conditions OF
the various land grants, most Of which, be
declared, have been forfeited by Don-com-
pliancs with the conditions. He criticised
very severely the opinions OF A'tOrnsy-Gen-
erai Devsns and Attorney General Brewster,
az we'll "a the decisions Of the Supreme
Court on the general subject; aod when
asked what remedy could be applied, s2id ::
g The remedy il that the force Of public
opinion shall compel Congress, 10 the inter-
eat Of Common honesty and purity Of gov
ernmeni. 10 declare by lormA: act the Tor
fixture Of all the grants to the extent that
the lands we're not earned by the companies
in conformity with the conditions on which
the grants we're made"
"Wnst amount of land do you think
could be honestly restored TO the public
domsin?"
There are 96,OOO,Oo0 acres included in
forfeited grants, about which there can be
possible ground for dispute"
'What would you do with the public
lander Would you have them sold as here
tofore1
mo, sir. I would not consent to the sale
Of su acre.. IA We are drifting, this genera
ton will see the public lsnds adapted TO
agriculture substantially disposed Of. and in
the hsuds of corporations and private par
ties No, sir, would not sell an acre Of
public land which admits of cultivation. ]
would hold all the pun bic lands adapted 10
agriculture (subjsct 10 grants for education)
for the siupie u1rpose of occurring homes
to bona fds settiers. This is the whole
of my Immigrant system. The time has long
aimee gone by when our government could
| afford TO permit speculation in tie public
lsnds; and, let me tell you, our people will
never appreciate the value of our public
lands until the general lznd-ofhce is closed
up. The land monopoly feature of this
lan9-graut system is the most odious eveI
devised in any country. Already 1t IS ere
| stipg imperial landed estates. see the
| Northern Pacific Company has lately sold