New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-11
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
TUpIAvD-GRANT SYSTEM.


REPRESENTATIVE HOLMAN STRONGLY IN FAVOR oF
FORFEITURE OF UNEARNED GRANTS 10 KALI
ROADS.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRlbuNEi
WASHINGTON April 1O.-O1e OF the I'os' 'o''o
men in the last Congress In his oppoS'lon ~ idi
roads was Representative Holman, OF lndlahd' lie
was reelected to the next Congress ana has strong
homes that with big Dem 'cratic majority good
deal can be done embarrass railroad enterprises
wbcbare in any degree dependent for their prosper
inv or success upon grants of land from the General
Government. In recent conversation MI. Holman
bewailed the ill-success of himself and Mr. Robson
in the last Congress, which, he declared was not
organized for reform"
BENG asked whether he thought the Immigrant
question would be prominent in the next House,
Mr.. Holman replied: IL think it will very large
portion Of The public lands Is placed IN jeopardy by
this system of land grants aud yet fear our
people are not alive to the importance OF
the subject. The system is in the man
the result of legislation in the last twenty-five
years. Before 1861 less than 32.OOO,OOO acres hau
been granted. The grants since that time amount
10 more than 1872 600, 900 acres. Waving the grant
of 81. 900 900 acres TO the Union Pacihc hairode'
DENY that any OF the Others grew out of any pup
lie reason or were designed except incidentally Il
at all, to promote the public interests"
'.How many miles of railroad are covered or 10 DE
covered by this land grant-systemT
Leaving out the Illinois Central ana the Noolie
and Ohio, about 1000 miles OF r1Iiroau anu 'o'e
graph lines"
Mr.. Holman then went into a long explanation OF
the terms aud conditions of the various land grants
most of which, he declared. have been forfeited by
Noncompliance with the conditions. lie criticised
very severely the opinions OF Acknowledgement
Devens and Attorney General Brewster as well as
Al nf thn
the general subject; and when asked
what remedy could be applied, SAID;
The remedy is that the force of public opinion shall
compel Congress, ill the interest of common hon
estv and purity of government to declare by formal
act the forfeiture of all the grants to the extent
that the lands were not earned by the companies in
conformity with the conditions on which the grants
were made"
"What amount of land do yo1 think could be
honestly restored to the public domain 7"
There are 90, 600. 900 acres included in forfeited
igrants about which there be no possible ground
for dispute
"What would you do with the public lands
Would you have them sold as heretoioreI"
"No. sir. would not consent to the sale OF an
acre As we are drifting this generation will see
the pubc lands adapted TO agriculture substanti-
ally disposed of and in the hands of corporations
and private parties No, sir, l wond
mot sell an acre OF pubic land
(which admits of cultivation. l would hold
ali the public lands adapted to agriculture subject
10 grants for educaton) for the simple purpose of
securing homes to bona-tide settlers. his IS the
whole of INV land-granr system. The time has long
since gone by when our Government could AFFORD 10
pcr,nit speculation in the public lands; and. let me
tell YOU our people will never appreciate the vaIue
of our public lands until the General Land once Is
closed The land monopoly feature OF this
Iand-grant system is he most o1iOus ever devised
In any country. Already it is creating imperial
landed estates. | see the Northern Pacific Company
has lately sold 5000 600 acres to an English syndI
cate We are to have a taste of baronlal posses