Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-01-24
DAILY .INTEllIGtnCfR.


ukIlv WSI.MIEllIuINVIn.
A CusGRISG P1o'PECu
From the temper Of the House OF
REPRESENTATIVE IS displayed IN tue
n,ss,oe of the Holman restitution on
Monday last, there are cvi ie:4t gr'aads
for hope th't s,mething "iii h'' done
thia vinter TO q lock and open up 70
set,.e.n.ut y vas' are. # unearn' q isno
GRANTED coating~ntiy to railroad cor
uorations. That resolution DECLARED -h-
plicitly that all public l.nd-; - 'Af %
the came are open to fo,fei'afe, oy 'ea
son Of non -faItiliment II ;ae conditions
mann which the gr mt wsre made oo2nt
I, be declared forfei ed to TIE oai'es
ssa.ss and restored - the public do
main. and instructed the Committee on
Public Lands to rspor: bills 70 that Ell
feet. The vots-25i yeas 70 Is nays
IN the resolution must have boon sur
prise to the lobby. rhisAct n supple
mented, a. il was ON Tuesday by the
report from the Commitsee on Public
Lands Of q bill declaring the Texas Pa
oific land grant forfeited, gives good
reason for the belief that in the lover
House at least. radical Legislation IN
favor Of the people, in this matter OF IN
upearped lands may be relied upon.
The suggestion Is doubtless true that
An endeavor TO make some party capi-
tai for the next political campaign has
considerable tn do with the prompt
ness and practical unaaimisy with
which measures looking to the restora-
ton of these lands have TINS far besn
supported. This does not, however, de-
tract from th. merits Of the measures
proposed. We are content IL the result
shall DO ~ the people demand, namely:
a surrender Of all grants not earned.
Its, We think, extremely probable
thas several bills having this end IL
view will pass the House Of kspresents-
tivss. II has been intimated that the
corporations affected will pool their in
tsrests and endeavor TO defeat them all
in the Senate, or IL possible, repeat the
old method Of avoiding obnoxious leRis-
lstion b. getting them referred toa
friendly committee, there TO remain
pigeon holtd. The time has gone by
when that sort of thing will 10 quietly
submitted to. The temper Of the people
IL not such as to render trifiinR an safe
az heretofore. II these bills pass the
House and 10 to the Senate, that body
will he called upon in no uncertain tones
to act upon Thorn. Politics will also
enter into this demand. The honss 10
largely Democratic, and il the bills are
passed that party will claim, aud DO en-
titled to credit, for Its action. The
Senate 10 Republican. II must face the
uusic, and take the responsibility
for their defeat II such be
the outcome. The Republican
party cannot afford 70 antagonize
the public demand. outspoken M it 10
upon this question. To do 10 would DO
70 misrepresent the wishes Vt nine
tsnths Of the party, aud ALLEVIATE from
ito ranks at the impending election
enough Of the rank aud file to insure
defeat. We believe that Republicans
in the senate will be compelled 10 vie
with their Democratic oompeers in sav-
ing to the people the millions Of acres
If land now claimed by corporations
under contracts, the provisions Of which
they have persistsntly violated or neg
lscted to perform. And right here We
may add that If the people of the Uni
ted States succeed in saving this vast
body Of land, they should not in their
sxultation forget to be grateful to Mr..
Huntington for the aid afforded by him
in / il role of correspondent. II Is so
seldom that such a man figures AZ .
public bsnefact0r that the Occasion
should be made memorable by appro-
pirate recognition. Tue Cotton letters
are accomplishing work in the inter-
est Of clean and honest government.
none the less ef{sstual because intended
otherwise. The prospect has not for
years been 80 bright and promising.