Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-05-23
DAILY pOST-InTEluGENCER.


~
Drowning men grasp at stravs. Oar
saneuine contemporary, the Tacoma
Ledyer, of the DIST instant, d-votes near
Iy a column Of its valuable editorial
space in proving, TO It's own satisfaction
that the land forfeiture question 10
definitely yettied IN the House OF hepr.-
septat,ves. IN favor Of the "graobsrs.
II uredicates this-to Utmost hopeful
view upon tue recent report Ut the Con-
n,ttee on Judiciary. which declares
.oeinst forfeiture of a grant 81 what 10
Known us the backbone" route, road,
of oo,nbinal. OIL of roads III tue Sou'n'
The Ledger il weIcor'e to all the nnfri
,,.r, thu. ran he obtained from fat
committee report. Its a well ~ own
far, thu, the House Committee sn Ju
dietary is in sympathy with the grab
bers. Indeed there are persons unkino
enough TO intimate thas its members
vere mainly appointed at railroad IN
stigation and solicitation. Heretofore
tbe consideration Of forfeiture matters
has been monopolized by the judiciary
Committees in both Houses Of Congress-
with results invariably in favor OF cor
porations and their claims. AT this ses
sion of Congress, however, new depAr-
.nre was taken BY the House OF Repre-
septatives, and all bills relating To Tor
feiturs of unearDed land grants were
referred TO the Committee on Publc
Lands. That committee, some time
ago reported almost unanimously IN Ia
yor of forfeitiBg this backbone grant
After ward, at the earnest solicitation OF
the Judiciary Committee, and to AVOID
even the shadow of unfalrness, the
House consented 20 refer this bill TO
that committee. the friends OF the bii
we'll knowing in advance of such ret r.
ence what the report would be.
We do not like to throw any damier
upon the exuberant spirits and jubiiani
feelings Of the Ledger. But 1t may not
be smiss to call attention to the fact
that early in the present session, the
House of Representatives almost unan-
imously adopted resolution piedginR
itsslf to forfeit all unearned land grants
to railroad corporations, nor to tue No
less important incident, that no bill FOL
land forfeiture which has been up be-
fore that body for final action, has fan
ed of enactment. There are no import
ant Indications that the House has
changed it's views. The advocates OF
forfeiture have not lost any ground b,
the delays forced upon them in conse-
uuenoe of discussions Of tariff and ap
preparation bills.
We not anticipate any action III the
House upon the most important OF the''
forfeiture bills until after the adjourn
nent of the National Republican Con
vention at Chicago. IL that convention
shall fail to incorporate in It's platform
a resolution pledging the party to res
toration of these bnearned lands, ther
will come the Democratic opportunity
one which we believe will be prompt,
utilized by the majority in the love-
House of Congress. The Democratic
party could not attack its rival IN I
more vulnerable place, nor put itsel
before the people Oh the right side OF Al
issue more vital and far reaching. 1hn
public land question is by no means Of
local character. II is not limited in ii
application to the corporation OF which
the Iedger IL a Jealous, albeit not ex
ceptionally brilliant advocate. Their
are about 00.OCO,OC0 acres of the publ
domain in controversy. On the ON
side are the railroads, on the other tn
people. Their interests are of necessit,
antaRonistic. All over the United State
today, the Iandless and their friends ar
closely scanning the attitude of the tw'
great national parties upon this matter
We have no fear of the ultimate result
although at present in the Senate of tn
United States, and apparently in til
Executive Department of the Govern
ment, the railroad corporations are ell
trenched. Much has been gained al
ready. Once active agRressors hav
been forced to assume the defensive
The bold assaults of these corporal
banditti have cease / to degree. Hence
forth the work TO be performed is t
batter down their Notifications in Con
gress and elsewhere. This will be don
ut the ballot box.