The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-10-20
GRATUIT0US GRASS.
SENATOR GIBBS At MONTAGUE.
He Makes the Dry Grass Theme Fresh as
Rainfall-,lustiies the Lease
Systematic Deals Logically
with the Entire Case.

An extract from Senator Gibbs Montague
speech,
Tho free grass or land question is an
important one, though by no means
the only one, and it should not absorb
all the interest, either Of the people or
those seeking to represent them.
There was period in our recent
history when we had more free grass
than we over expected to need, and vet
under an eXtravagant and corrupt gov
eminent taxes were so high that people
remained here only because they hoped
for better era in state politics, which
came with and has continued under
/ Democratic rule. Whatever may bo the
| hnal settlement Of this grass or land
question, it should be the result OF the
cool, calm Judgment Of the
| people, and not the result OF
convictions founded hastily or in
a spirit Of prejudice or passion.
/ No one man and no one section of the .
state Will settle II, but it win be settled |
in the interest of the whole state and all |
OF its people by = majority OF their rep
reSentatives. In formulating land |
policy we must consider the following |
main points.
First-'fhat there should be no barriers
to boneiidc settlement Of the country, |
ana hat in each locality whore there is |
school land that enough should ALWAYS |
ne reserved for and made easy of acqui- |
sit on by the settler; and the privileges
accorded to this class should not be
transferable TO spectators or open to
fraudulent practices.
Second That cOnceding the entire
thlrty-iivo millions of acres OF school
land to be suited for settlement by the
man with the hoe and the pillow,
that II would be many wears before the
settler demand would be sufficient TO
absorb 1t and thus make taxable values
ana lncome-bearing school fund of the
lana. In the meantime if no revenue
Is derived from it that this land would
DC so much dead capital needed in the
education of the children, and the an
huai income that might thus be derived
ny the Lease of this surplus would have
10 come from taxation, which is borne
equally by the small AS we'll Ms by the
large taxpayers.
ThIrd-Fhat if no more annual rev
ehue IS derived from this school land
IMAM inc interest paid by the settler pur-
chasers, that the present school tax of
w cents will in five years have TO be
increased to so conts on the one hum
dred dollars or school facilities reduced.
The increase in scholastic population il
so much greater than the increase IN
taxable values that there must be an in
creased income from tho lease of the
surplus land, or an early and steady in
crease IN taxation for school purposes, or
! reduction Of school facilities. The rep
. resentatives OF the people will have to
lsce these facts which are sustained by
. lhe scholastic census, the records OF tho
land Office, and the records OF the comp
i troller's Office. financially, the sale Of
, the grass lands in largo bodies would
: answer tho same purpose as their lease,
ha nj NHHst
ing 10 monopoly OF land by cheap
. money. II lease system cannot be so
, formed as to yield revenue
~ 70 INC school fund and vet
. not, interfere with the settlement
!, OF the country the Inevitable result will
~ be free grass and light school taxes, and
a TINS IN its social and political effects
p large bodies.
Fourthly-We must consider the fur.
ther fact that there IL getting to be
. more stock than grass on tho school
=. land, and that If this grass is left free il
, VIII result in bitter warfare among the
y occupants of the crowded ranges, FOR
there can be no law that will protect
y one man against the encroachmcuts Of
y another ON free range. This impor.
=, tant feature OF The question regulated
-, ltselt Nhen there was more grass than
y stock; the smaller Stockman would
y, then 90 before or drop behind the
- larger and stronger stockman,
- put TINS can no longer be done, M the
II range Is crowded m every direction.
/" DelleVe the lease law can he 80 amended
:, that revenue can DO derived from il
~ me STOCK business systematized, anC
~ the settlement OF tho west not retarded
u Goiiingnut Wash Jones and free rrns.
~ and talking about what used TO he. /,
~ not going 10 sottle this question, il Is
going To be settled by an almost uuani
ID mously Democratic legislature. 1t seem,
to me that the only wise course for Ia,
, west TO pursue, Is To stick by its Dem
IL ocrscy ana send men who Themselves
u understand your wants and can ex
H. bihih them. There are no con
10 llcting elements in this matter
,r You who are here claim you want NOR,
o. ssuiersi the people Of the more thickly
A; settled portions OF the state have fur
is hlshed the most OF the settlers for thil
q. western country, and expect to con
r tlhue 70 DO 30, and their prosperity will
h. Instead ofthe lease law men and IN,
ID free grass mon, and tho lease law pa
m pers anu the rree grass papers, spending
,e tneir tlme abusing each other, AND
Of everybody that don't agree with them
lot US all devote our leAsurs to trying [,
@. devise land system that will be per
IN manent, and "a little Objectionable a
a. possible. Too much agitation and 10.
II iroeuent changes in land legislation ar,
hi disastrous 10 the best interests of IN,
~ whole country; IL checks i'm
II. migration aud unsettlss values.
nj Fifthly-ln dealing with this matte
a there ~ another question OF importance
i'm to bo considered, viz: There are vor,
OF Insignificant number OF uatered sec
~ ttons rs compared with the whole mum
W. her OF sections belonging to the schoo
M lund' To utilize these lands some Ina
No ducomout must bo offered Tor tho davel
npment ut water. To accomplish thi
loo the United States gives grants of land
of IN fee simple, while hV a Lease nj In,
IS. iEurcs Texas might Obtain tho sam
49, RESULTS There must bs a system al,
n. vised that will reserve these lands Ia
The settler, and nc the same time, m po.
Of 1ulc derive revenue from tao million
AT % acres not Ia demand for settlers.
of ==-7- .
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- "wnv DON'T YOU CuHEq"