New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-28
UNLAWFUL OCCUPANCY OF PUBLIC LAND
STRONG WORDS II A REPORT TO TIE HOUSE
AGAINST THE LAND PIRATES.
nay TrIFCP \ru TO THF TRIBUNE1

icy TELEGRAPH TO THR TEIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, April 27.-ln the report sub
nited by Representative Tayson, OF Illinois, from the
Committee on Public Lands, on the bill TO prevent the I'M
law occupancy OF public lands, some Interesting facts
arc disclosed According this document official reports
node 10 the Commissioner OF tho General Land ONCE
show that some Of The great Enclosures Of public land
which Is thus uulawiay occupied are controlled
by foreign capitalists exclusively. Among those
mentioned are the Arkan3as Cattle Company,
100000 acres; tho Prairie Cattle Company,
scotch upward OF 100000 acres; the Carlisle Cattle
Company U.nc!ish), The Wyoming Cattle Company
(scotch and others. In Wyoming Territory alone some
l25 corporations have large areas OF the public land in
closed.
The report says: zone titled gentleman, Marques De
Morales, has d large Enclosure IN Dakota OF the public
land maintained by his retaners as against
American citizens The aggregate Of land thus
controlled exclusively by these foreigners IS
several millions of acres These Enclosures generally
made OF barbed wire and by many Of them mail routes
are closed settlement By eli zeus under the homestead
and presumption laws l. prevented There is not
another nation the earth That would permit such out
RACES as are being pemoraed as to these lands and it Is
be, ond comprehension why parties should have been
permitted TO erect and maintain their Enclosures for
single day after notice had been given Of their existence
especaIly these foreign congregations. Since
1907 the statute has been IN forco author
ling the President TO employ the military force
Of the Government under direction Of the Marshals to
move Instructions trcSpaSscrs from the public lands
I'm recent years the only exercise OF this authority has
been to remove few ignorant settlers from the dis
putcd region north Of the Indian Territory The Govern
iurn has been strdnlng at a gn1t ana swallowing q
camel This bill declares stucse enclosures unlawful,
citizens to dDdte them as luhc hllSthcS "a Ilsnl
The common law Of England gives. and which has been
crcrcised time out OF mind II puts the whole machn-
CIV of the law the power Of the Government at the
command Of any citizen, without awaiting thc cicun-
ocIiiou of executive action. The evil sought to he
abaied is ntolcr1be. That ii has been permitted TO
reach its present proportions Is a disgrace ne mi
should become law speedily. that the dement's OF the
seasons grazing may be had hy the smaller ranchmcn
and settlers avail thcscIes OF the homestead law as
cIIlyias possible A.
Tie prospects Of the passage OF this measure at the
present session not good as could be desired Inc
bill was only reported Wednesday last, ana had 10
take It's place the foot OF long calendar. Unless II
can be made special order. passed under si,pen-
sion of the rules probable that the great land
pracs Of the western pralIes Will be able 10 DEFY Tie
law ana continue their unlawful occupancy OF the pub
lie lands during another session at least