The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-05-15
PUBLIC LANDS.

Millions Of Acres Controlled by Foreigners.
Washington Telegram to Chicago Tribunc.l
Mr.. Payson, of Illinois, from the
Committee on Public Lands, has sub
mitted to the House report on the
bill to prevent the unlawful entry of
public lands. In this report, Judge
payson says:
The Official reports show that some of these
enclosures nre controlled by foreign capital
lists exclusively. such as the Arkansas Cat
tie Company, 1000, 900 acres. the Prairie Cat
tie Company tScotChl, upward of l,000000
acres: the Carlisle Cattle Company English,
in Colorado; the Wyoming Cattle Company
tScotca1, in Wyoming; and numerous others,
the data "a to the area not being given. In
Wyoming alone 1t appears that upward of
l25 corporations have large areas of the pub
lie lands inclosed. one titled gentleman, the
Marquis de Mora.es, has large Enclosure IN
Dakota of the public lands, ma ntained by
his rctainers as against American citizens.
The aggregate Of lands thus controlled exclu-
sively by these foreigners is several millions
of acres. These measures are generally
made of bartei wire. and by many OF them
mail routes are closed. and sett cment by ct.
liens under the homestead AMI presumption
laws is vented,
The bill Is unanimously agreed to by the
committee and has the approval of the Sec
rotary of the Interior. TO guard against
malicious prosecutions whore small Enclosures
are made mot exceeding $40 acres AMI in
Guiding no agricultural lands, provision is
inserted that, before suit il brought against
such. the authority OF the Secretary of the
Interior must first be had.
No argument Is deemed necessary In SIP
port Of the bill. There IL no. another nation
on the earth that woud permit such out
RACES as are being p.rTetratcd rs to these
lands; and il Is beyond comprehension why
part es should have been permitted to erect
aud maintain their enclosures tor a single
day after notice had been given Of their eNis-
ten, Q, especially these foreign corporal ons.
Since 10. statute has been in force author
izing the President to employ tho military
forces of the Government under the d rcction
of the Marshals. To remove distractions and
trespassors Upon the public lands. In recent
years the only exercise of this authority has
been 10 remove a few ignorant settlers from
the disputed region north Of the Indian Ter
ritory. The Cove nment has been straIning
at II gnat and swallowing camel.
This bill declares these enclosures unlaw-
| full; allows the CIT zen to abate them as pub-
| lie nuisanccs-a right the common law OF
| England gives, and which has been exercised
time out of mind. 1t puts the whole ma.
| chncry of the law and the power Of the Gov
| eminent n the command of any citizen and
| without awaiting the tircumlocution of eX-
| ccutive action. The evil sought to lie a. ,ated
/ is tntolerab.e, and that II has been pnrmi ted
TO reach It's present proportions is u d.ss race.
| The hill should become u law speedily, 8,
| that the Lcnctits of this seasons grazing may
| be had b. the smaller range men, and set
| tiers avail thcms Ives of the homestead law
as early ms possible.