Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-03-28
..sth.r gsusing Meeting Hid 10 Dis
.u, the Forieitu, Of The Un>
,arasd tani Grants Of the
N.P.R &. Company.
The Sentim pn mt Unanim on 4
I'm Favor Of Forfeiture,
Rousin { Speeches Made by
Rousing Speakers.
p...ident Harris Outlines the Policy
Of the Railroad Company In
Dispatch TO Mr.. Mcknight.

An adjourned meeting of the citizen
osKiup county to discuss the questio,
y, termin ating the unearned land gran
nj the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
p,sy. now pending before CIngress
vas held al Yesler's Hall last night
The building was crowded to over
flowing.
The meeting was c.lled to ord"r BY
Jodos O. Jacobs, who introduced AS the
first speaker
JOHN KISNEAB, ESQ,
VINO said the forfeiture of these IN
earned land grants was not merely OF
Isol interes. and local importance. but
Il ia matter which is demanding
.tteution of the people all over the
Eastern and Western States. Betweon
1872 and 1878 there was q great move
meut in the Western States by the peo
Ole who united to protect themselves
AGAINST railroad oppression and railroad
rule. The railroads held that the rights
ia the lands were vested rights, and
that they we're the exclusive Controllers
of the roads and I'D a right to charle
such tariff and fares a, they saw fit.
The people. becoming thoroughly
aroused, elected LeRislaturss wCo ua
dsrtovk to regulate ths rates to be
charged by roads running through their
several States. Their action was taken
into the courts, and at first 1t was held
thst the people had no rights which the
Il e.. k..,s
after a time change came over the
scene, when honest judges were elected
by the people to cOnstrue and admins
ter the laws, and through Illinois and
the West generally 1t is now conceded
by the railroad companies tn st the pep
ple have a right to dictate terms to
them. The American people will stand
lust 80 muCh oppression. after which
ihey will rise up in their might and put
down their opprt ssors. While railroads
are great blessing to a country and
their value cannot be too highly estinat-
ed. the owners and managers of rail
roads have no measure for their greed.
They have no means of determining
how much to charge. This IS true of
one az we'll az another. The prople
must elect lawmakers who will legislate
intelligently upon this matter, and
then they will like the Northern Pacific
Just as we'll as any other company. But
the question that you are Interested In
10 whether the Northern Pacific Rail
road Company has right to retain
these unearned lands. The people of
the United States are now dem anding
Congress to restore to the public do
main all the unearned lands of all rail-
road companies, SO that the people N "
20 upon them and improve tn, m.
The honestly earned lands are
all right, and the Conpani 3
should be- protected in their possession
of them, but the unearned lands, where
the grants have expired, belong to the
people and not the railroads and should
be restored to the public domain. A
lAborer does not demand pay for ser
vices he does Not perform, and why
should railroad demand land from the
Government that it has not earnedI
For instance, sell piece Of property
to man, and give him a bond for
decd. He does not comply with tue
provisions of that bond and the land
rsverts to me. That ID right; that il
Justice between man and man. WHY
should the same rule not apply to rail
roads as well as to individuals ! | say.
In all that Is Just, in all that IL fair and
honorable, why should not the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company forfeit its
unsarned lands !!
At this iuncture Mayor Strive entered
and took seat on the platform. He
called UPON Judge Lewis to report the
action OF the committee appointed at
the previous meeting. The Judge
stated that he and Mr.. White had both
been absent from town for several DAYS,
and therefore would require little
more time before making the report.
JUDGE THOMAS BURKE
Was next called for. He said: The
question you are here to consider IL a
very serious one, and one frau0ht with
8greHt deal of importauce. II ~ one
which concerns the best Interests 0f this
city, oounty and Territory. II We make
this light we must remember that We are
facing \ corporation of great wealth,
which IL vastly unsorupulous aud sell
nsh. II it Is our purpose to take bold
stand We must unite AZ one NAL. Eve
~ man should take this matter home to
himself. and consider. How much am
willing to give in dollars and cents to
assist IN winning the victory Some
two months ago SO ne OF the represen-
tative men of this city sent Il carefully
and respectfully worded telegram to
Mr.. Harris, the president Of the
Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pauy, relative TO the policy to be
pursued by his Company with regard
to this section of country, and instead
OF an honest, immediate rep y, We wait
I'd Tor long time, and finally received
An evasivs answer. 1t was forked
tongue with which they spoke to u.s.
THIS was very unsatisfactory. and We
were almost at loss to determine
what course to pursue. We looked
about US, and saw our merchants, who
are by far the largest saipeers of goods
In Washington Territory, almost de
pendent upon this railroad for trans
portat,ou and shipment of goods, and
decided not to make II rupture; but, on
me contrary, attempted 10 make con-
citations. Since that time il has trans
PRED that body of men have again
Ros control of the Northern Pacific Who
viii sacrifice everything to the advance
ment OF their owa private ends. There
IS Dat one way to meet them. and that
10 stand as enc man and build road
o! Your own. There is money aud
Drains enough to build q road to Ellens-
whhAu tuc ucAt ctsutcci 'bcAtdS.
HE Northern Pacific Railroad Com
p~ly despises the people of Washington
territory. and nuch talking and
Aard words will not friehten them
DIT. have neither hope Of nor
tanh In the present management Of the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company.
and We are able to stand against them
y We are only united. Ii We so after
th's unearned land grant. let Us get It
AZ all hazards. Ii We make a strike. let
Us strike with effect. BY this aggressive
course We can get better terms than II
We Al, supinely by and let them ride
over Us. II We send a man to Congress,
let us select one Who will be fearless IN
soe discharge of his duties, and one who
~iii properly represent the wishes and
feelings Of the people Of the Territory.
Congress is ready, and believe will de-
oiafe that grant forfeited.
c. X. JENNER
MAS called upon aud made . few re-
marks. He had not come there to talk,
Out to hear others talk. IL seems 10 me
And to thoss acquainted With the Law
aud the facts, that it should not require
mass meetings Of American citizens to