St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-23


said that when a government gave means
enough to cover the whole cost of road; and
then donated it to the stockholders; they
ought to rest satisfied and not ask for $780,
100000 more. Applause.
THE FATE OF THE BILL.
But on the oath day of July, 1889, Proctor
Knott, of Kentucky, Dem.) introduced
report from the minority of the committee
on the judiciary, signed by himself, David
B. Culberson, r. W. Townshend and Van
II. Manning, reciting the above facts and
concluding with joint resolution, declaring
the lands on the uncompleted portion for
feited for breach of conditions Of the grant
and restoring them to the public domain.
MAJOR STRAITS VOTE.
This..report and resolution the speaker, (that
superb lunk-head, Keifer, of Ohio,) held could
not be received if any one objected; Mr..
Caswell, of Wisconsin, objected; the monop-
olists were resorting again to the policy OF
obstruction: to reach vote Proctor Knott
made an appeal from the ruling Of the chair,
a motion was made to lay the appeal on the
table, and on this the yeas and nays were
called. The vote stood yeas, 81; nays, 70,
Dunnell a0d Washburn did not vote either
way; but Aqjor Strait voted to lay the appeal on
the table and thus preyent the passage
Of the resolution to forfeit the ua-
earned lands. The yeas had it and
the settler can now buy his lands, at high
price, from the railroad company, instead of
taking them as free gift from the govern
ment. [Applause.]
IN FAVOR OF THE MAINE LIQUOR LAW.
Subsequently, on the 21st January, 1884,
Mr.. Holman (Dem.). Of Indiana, introduced
the following resolution in the House:
Resolued, That in the Judgment of this
House, all the public lands heretofore granted
to states and corporations to aid in the con-
structiOn of railroads, SO far as the same are
now subject to forfeiture by reason of the
non-fulfllment of the conditions on which
the grants were made ought to be declared for
feited to the United States and restored to
the public domain.
This resolution was adopted by an over
whelming vote: yeas 251, nays II; and
Major Strait voted for it, He is like the fell
low who was in favor of the Maine liquor law,
but opposed to putting it in force. Laugh
ter. As long as mere platitudes were re-
| quired the major was on hand with as loud
yea as any of them; but when it came to-
reducing the platitudes to practice, and saw
ing $4,000, 900 to the settlers Of Dakota,
Montana, Idaho and Washington territories,
the Major begged to be counted out. APP
plause.
THE BACKBONE LAND GRANT.
But it may be said tina. the Majors vote on
the Northern Pacific Railroad bill was given
on local grounds, and that since the vote
last referred to the Major has experienced a
change Of heart. Not bit Of it, for after the
passage of this resolution we find the Major
backing up one of the most villainous frauds
ever brought before Congress. 1 refer to
what is known as 'sthe Backbone Land
grant," otherwise, ''the New Orleans, Baton
Rouge & Vcksburg railroad,'' 'the blacklist
sheep" says the Chicago Express Of March
&c. 1884, Gin the whole lot of railroad Swim
dies, corpora
ton so STEPPED in corruption
that if a man was as pure as the driven snow,
and but touched the rotten thing with the tip
of his finger, it would give dark color to
every fiber Of his body" daughter and ap-
plause.) A corporation which issued, as we
are told, $500, 900 of bonds, printed them on
credit, and distributed them for corrupt pur-
poses.
THE MAJOR VOTED FOR 1T.
And when this road was in default, and it
was proposed in accordance with the res
olution for which he had just voted, to for
felt its unearned LANDS, and restore them to
the public domain, lHdjor STRAIT IN committee
voted no, and was ONE OF FIVE TO JOIN IN A
MINORITY REPORT PROTESTING AGAINST THE
FORFEITURE.
But have no heart to go further In this
pitiful record. l think it clearly sustains my
declaration that the Major has steadily yotea
Congress on the side Of the Nonopolists and
i1gain.t the people.
| IGNORANCE AS BAD AS CORRUPTION.
do not charge him with corruption in so
doing Either he knew what he was about,
| or he did not. In either event 1t does not
seem to me that he is the man to represent
such constituency as this. Napoleon said
that a blunder was worse than a crime. 1t
may be set down as an axiom, that ignor-
ance,in public man, may be as criminal as
| corruption, and sometimes ten times more
destructive. [Applause.l
NOT WAR AGAINST RAILROADS.
do not desire to be understood that you
| gentlemen have assembled here to organ ize
an aggressive campaign against railroads.
Nothing is further from your thoughts. All
| l. l., f,;r
protect the just rights of the corporations as
you are to defend your own. [Applause.l
THE MILLERs' RING.
pass to another branch of this Monopoly
| question.
Minnesota's great crop is wheat. Climate,
altitude, soil have made it such. We raise
the finest quality OF wheat, capable of max
ing the finest flour, in the world. Our flour
regularly commands a higher price than any
| other in the eastern markets. In Philadel-
phia this premium is 81 per barrel, equal to
nearly twenty-five cents per bushel on the
wheat Of which it ia composed. Upon our
wheat crop mainly depends the growth of
the state in population and wealth. Every
encouragement should be given by law to
our wheat growers. What are the facts of
| the case2
| NOT FREE MARKET N THE STATE.
We have not free wheat market in this
state from center to circumference. Hence
we have not one where immense frauds are
not constantly, daily aud hourly, practiced
upon the producer. Great applause.)
Liberty means property. 1t means that
the fruits Of a mans industry shall not be
taken from him without compensation.
When he is taxed he expects to receive gov
eminent, peace, order, and social safety in
exchange. The English revolution was in
defence of the rights of property, against the