The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-22
THE TEXAS PACIFIC GRANT.
Mr.. Holman Surprises the Railway People
by Flank Movement.

MIR. Holman Surprises the Railway People
by Flank Movement.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, JAN 21.-Mr. Cobb, of Indiana,
gives the following as the cause of the delayed
report on the Texas Pacific grant, which kept it
it out of the House to-day, although it was com
pleted tonight: '"The committee directed Mr.
Payson and myself to prepare report on the
road. At first we decided to make this brief
but in writing it we found so much that was i'm
portant for the House to be acquainted
with before voting that we agreed
that it would be best to make
it more exhaustive. AS Horace Greeley was
won't to remark it will be mighty interesting
reading We shall give number of Hunting
toms letters in this report. 1t will be ready to
present to the committee on Tuesday, and it will
be printed and placed before every member, so
that on the following day, when we can ask for
suspension of the rules, shall ask for the pas
sage of the bill. In the next three months 20,-
600 600 acres of railroad lands will certainly be
declared forfeited to the government and open
to public entry"
Mr. Holmans resolution was a great surprise
to all railroad interests operating here, and the
vote of the House still greater surprise. The
failure of the public land committee to report to-
day was thought to have carried the subject of
forfeiting land grants over for one month, when
Mr.. Holman's sweeping resolution was thrown
on the House without the knowledge of the land
committee and passed
MR. HoIMANs RESOLUTION.
Following is the resolution introduced by Mr..
Holman, and the proceedings incident to its pas
sage Mr. Holman moved to suspend the rules
and adopt the following:
Resolved That in the Judgment Of the House all
public lands heretofore granted States corporations
to aid in the construction of railroads far the
subject to forfeiture, for of nom
ful6ment of the conditions by which the grants
made ought to be declared forfeited to the United
States and restored to the public domain.
Resolved That it is of the highest public interest
that the laws touching public lands be framed and
administered to ultimately freehods therein
the greatest number of citizens and to this end all
laws permitting speculation in public lands author
zing permitting the entry purchase thereof by
large bodies ought to be repealed and all public lands
adapted to agriculture subject to grants and those
aided in education ought to be reserved for actual
settlers and disposed of under provisions of the home
stead laws only.
Resolved That the committee on public lands is
instructed TO report to the House bills to carry into
effect the views expressed in the foregoing resolutions
to be authorized to report such bills any time sub
ect only to revenue and appropriation bills and the
shall be in like order entitled to consideration.
Mr.. Kasson expressed concurrence in the
first resolution, but thought the House should
not act hastily on the second, which might work
injury to the cattle industry. i
Mr. Reed thought it was dangerous for the
House to adopt at moments notice resolution
with such sweeping provision
Mr. Belford supported the resolution, especial
ly the second provision. He did not propose
that four or five cattle kings should own the
West as four or five railway monarchs owned
the East a~4' e
Mr.. Tiorr opposed the resolution because it
might do injustice to some road earnestly striv
ing to earn its lands.
The resolution was adopted, yeas 25l, nays 18.
The following is the negative vote: Barksdale,
Bingham, Bisbee, George, Horr, Kean, Libbey,
Lyman, Morse, Muldrow, Poland, Ranney Reed,
Rice, RUSSELL Stone, VanEaton, and Whiting.