Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-10-23
DallI POST INIElIIcEnCER.
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= C0MPReMIsx WIFI WH~So-
The so.caIlsd .-eondIfionsl forfsisurs'
plank Of 10 piasforn adopted y me
Republican Territorial Convention =
de suhjsct 81 mush discnasion. = =
slained By ifs sdvoeates that unsisr y
81 Che benefits 10 Be obtained by =
orompt and unconditional restoration
a. The unearned grant 70 The pnbiie
domain would result. and. IN addision,
that spsedy compilation Of the Cascade
brsnsh wonId be scared 10 MS rscsns
sueech 1t Yeslsr's Hall, Major Arm
.trour took this visw, declaring that
she only way By which the Government
san resume possession Of the land = ~
an act Of CONGRESS restoring = % me
public domain that the eject and
meaning Of tho declaration = imms
diats forfeitnre.S
We will not rsfer At length 70 fns
. suonalous y position that. under his
oonstrucsion Of The edsot Of this rsss-
luton. she Rspublican candidate nov
occupies. II IL sufficient 70 note that ne
has officially declared hts opinion shat
che grant was non forfeitabie, and nov
asserts his adhesion 70 platform watch
he construes ~ demanding I" immediate
forfeiture
Il ID herein proposed 70 call attention
"A the . effects y OF the enactment by
Congress Of q Law In conformity with
this particular plank upon which %
much stress IL Iaid--which h claimed 70
be even better than declaration Of
unconditional forfeiture. That resoIu-
ton ID in effect AZ follows: Tho bands
shaIl be at once thrown open 70 settle
mens under . existing laws r the pro-
oeef,s OF all sales shall be held In trust
for the Northern Pacific for three years
il at that time the rsad 10 complstsd
and Ia operation. the proceeds Of all
sales. together with that portion OF the
grant not sold. shall at once become the
property Of the company.
This gives the public three years In
which 70 obtain the 100000 acres
granted In aid Of the Cascade branch.
The resolution declares that they may
be acquired under existing laws. These
ars the homestead, pre-. emption, timber
culture, timber sntry and coal entrs
acts. Il 10 patent that no entry could
be made under the homestead Law, be-
caass the company could get no pro-
cssds therefronl. Homesteads are gyfs.
Az TO the othens, there II strong pres
sure now being brought TO bear for I'm
mediate repeal Of the pre- emption and
timber culture acts. The Commissioner
Of the United States General Land
Oftioe. in his last report, strongly urges
this action, and IL 10 highly probable
that among the first will be one foi
their repeal. Issuance Of patents foi
timber land entries in this section has
been suspended for over year, on 90
count Of the alleged fraudulent char
aoter OF vast number Of entries, ano
ths law upon that subject will undoubt-
eddy be so amended next winter that
this price Of timber lands will be fixed
by official appraisement at much higher
figures than nov existing. This legisla
ton will undoubtedly be crowded te
the front and enacted long prior to any
bill affecting the Northern Pacific land
grant. The " existing laws then left
will DO solely that providing for pur.
chase of coal lands. The homestead
and presumption settler can get ne agri.
cultural lands within the grant, none
can DO obtained under tho timber cul.
turs not, and the price for timber iandt
will be greatly advanced. The pooi
man will be completely shut out. az
now. But some one will say, you still
have chance at the coal lands" True.
The public will be given three years in
which 10 discover, prospect and pur-
chase coal lands. A few companies
may be fortunate enough to obtain some
good mines In that brief period, where
coal has already BEEN found ; but not in
three nor In ten years will the beat coal
and ether mines along the line OF the
Cascade branch be discovered. nor will
their value or extent be known for a
long period to come.
AT the end Of TIRES years all unsoid
lands will revert 10 the company. This
IN Just what We oppose In reference 10
this land grant. While there 10 no coed
reason for giving the Northern Pacific
the proceeds OF sales Of lands In any
portion Of its unearned grant, that OBJ
lection might DO waived. because the
distribution of government funds does
NOT especially affect the people of this
Territory. hot the lands should be- AT
ouoe and forever thrown open 10 pablic
settlement and purchase; there should
be no reversion 10 corporate ownasship.
They should be free 10 the homestead
settler. Herein iiss the essential differ
ence between the Democratic and Re
publican platforms. The former de-
mands Just and practical legislation.
II declares for forfeiture pure and SIM
pie. II says the lands belong 10 the
government. and should be restored 10
its control without provision for future
rsvesisn 10 the company. The lattes
proposes 10 forfeit them for three years
and then lsck them up again indefin.
itely. II Internationally restored they
can be hemssteaded. 0therwis not
The difference Ia radical, vital. II ID
apparent 10 every reader Of the swc
platforms.
Failure always follows an attempt q
compromise matter OF strict justice
The Republican platform upoa shis
land grant question 10 Rlaring proof oil
this. IL asssrts n right and refuses &c
urge its exercise. II the lands shoold
be forfeited why provide for their reves
sion 20 the company II only the pro
ceeds thereof shonld be given, WHY no.