New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-12
RAILWAY INTERESTS.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC LAND GRANTS.
A REPLY TO ccSGREssMEN PAYsoNs OPPOSITION
TO CONFIRMATION.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRmUSE.l

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUSEl
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11.-Charles II. Tweed,
counsel for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company has
written letter to the Secretary OF the Interior in reply
to the arguments submitted by Congressman Payson OF
Illinois, in opposition the application OF the Southern
Pacific for the appointment Of Commissioner to exam
inc the road in Arizona and New Mexico, provided by
the act OF Congress Of March g. 1871 relating to the
Texas Pacific Railroad Company. Mr.. Tweed takes up
aud cOntroverts many OF the statements made by Mr.
PaysOn Mr.. Tweed discusses Mr. PaysOns proposition
that before the Southern Pacific DO recognized in It's
present claim the Secretary Unjust determine that 1t Is
legal successor and assign" Of the Texas Pacific and
also that such Succession Is not the result OF comDlna-
ton or consolidation with the Texas Pacific, with rival
competing through lines
Mr. Tweed says: Now we assert that we have the
right to the land grant assign and further that even
five claimed the right successor, have not become
such successor byiany prohibited consolidation" The
letter concludes: The briefs which have filed with
you in this show as believe, first right to the
land grant under law secondly, that the Attorney Cen
cral has already decided the precise question involved,
and has decided It in Mr.. Payson insists that
grants or subsidies TO transportation companies ms
Is doubt the case but they do not condemn honest
which the Government has heretofore assumed and If
they did will take for granted that this administration
would not make itself party to a reputation OF the
land obligations of the Government, any more than II
would make itself party to Reputation Of Its financial
In return for the land obligations which the Govern
ment assumed in 1871 and 1872 and which have been
transferred % the Government has received 10 the
fullest extent the considerations which It expected the
road has been built and within the stipulated tme the
communication u open the lands OF the Government
along the line rendered accessible, their price
doubled and their value muItiplcd and the cOmpanes
which have constructed the roads entitled 10 the full
hment OF the Governments obligations But even now
the advantage l. entirely upon side. II the right
OF the companies TO the land grant Is recognized the
Government will thereby acquire for ITSELF in respect OF
this road the very valuable rights in respect to anspQr-
tation or merchandise mail. and troops conferred by
section 10 OF the Act and If the Government were not
already bound il might well elect to bind itself In order
tO these rights. But the Government IS bound
and respectfully submit will not be found shirng It's
just obligations In this regard IT, however, the Score
tary has any doubt whether am right In my contention
that this very has been determined by the decision
o. the Attorney General I'm the Backbone Case would
respectfully ask that the Attorney General may be ap-
pcl % Tor his OpniOns mpnn the now bciOe YOu'