The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-23
ALIEN LAND-noLpING.
A House Report on tho Growth of English
LandIordiSm In Americn.

A House Report on tho Growth Of English
LandIordism In America.
WAsuISoToS, D. G., Jan. 22.-Repre,
sentative Oates, from the Committee on
Public Lands, has prepared report on a
bill to prohibit aliens and foreigners from
acquiring or owning lands within the
United States, which the committee has
reported to the House witha recommends
ton that It pass. Mr.. Oates says:
"Your committee has ascertained with
reasonable certainty that certain noble
men Of Europe, principally Englishmen,
have acquired and now own in the aggre-
gate about 2l,000 900 acres OF land within
the United States. We have not sufficient
Information to state the quantity owned
by untitled aliens; nor is 1t SO important
as it is generally held in smaller bodies.
This alien nonresident ownership will in
the course OF time, lead TO system OF
landlorlism incompatible with the best
interests of the free institutions of the
United States. The foundation for such a
system is being laid broadly in the West
ern States and Territories. A considerable
number OF the immigrants annually arriy-
ing in this country are to become tenants
and herdsmen on the vast possessions Of
these foreign lords under contracts made
and entered into before thgy sail for our
shores.
''rhe avarice and enterprise Of Euro
pcan capitalists have caused them to in
vest many millions in American railroad
and land bonds, covering perhaps 100, ,000,-
900 acres, thegreater part Of which, under
foreclosure sales, will most likely before
muny years become the property of these
foreign bondhnlders in addition 10 their
present princely possessions.
',lt Is thus manifest that the present
large alien ownership is an evil oil which
We have no do doubt the probabilities OF
the near future will lstill lmore imperatively
demand legislation for its prevention.
"The aggressive foreign capital is not
confined TO the lands, it has purchased,
butoverleaping its boundariesit has caused
hundreds Of miles Of the public domain to
be fenced up for grazing vast herds OF cat.
tie, and setAr detidnce the rights OF hon
est but humble settlers"
''Ihe policy OF the Government hereto.
fore toward aliens has been characterized
by great liberality, and different States,
each acting for itself, have gone still fur
ther upon the idea OF the desirability OF
rapid increase in population and wealth,
and by legislation have conferred upon
aliens rights far. beyond those they en-
joyed by treaty stipulations, the common
law or the law OF nations.
"Thc bill herewith reported proposes,
as a part OF the foreign policy oil this coun-
try, to operate only prospectively, and
therefore, not harshly, to prevent abso-
lutcly citizens or subjects OF other nations,
so long as they adhere to and retain their
allegiance to other powers from acquiring
ownership in American soil within the
jurisdiction OF the United States.
1--WE maintain that American soil should
bbe owned exclusively by American citi-
zens. Perhaps objection may be made to
the bill on the ground that its tendency
will be 10 drive foreign capital from this
country. Ifit were, We are not quite sure
that any permanent harm would result
therefrom to anyone on this continent.
The mortgages aud land bonds held by
aliens would not be materially impaired
| by the law proposed. They are deeds Of
trust and can be foreclosed and the land
sold in default OF payment by the alien
holder as well as BY the citizen. Neither
Of them can. according TO law, buy at his
own sale, because OF conflict OF interest,
unless tits stipulated in the contract; and
this being known, can have no further
effect upon future foreign investors in
this class OF securities than to make them
little more careful not TO rely upon the
prospect Of ultimate ownership OF the laud
mortgaged."