The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-22
NATIONAL MATTERS.
Alien LandowDers-Agricul Commits
sioner and Plsuro Pneumonia Finds
Newspaper Postage Reduce
tsOn-Woman's Rights
Meeting.

NtsHiSeroN. Jan. q. = Representative
Oates, of the Committee on Public Lands,
has prepared report on TIE bill to prohibit
aliens and foreigners from acquiring or own
ing lands within the United States. which
the committee has reported to the House
with the recommendation that il do pass.
Mr.. Oates ssvs: "Your committee ascer-
tained with reasonable certainty that certain
noblemen of Europe. principally English
men, have acquired and Eov own in the az
gregate about 100 900. 600 acres of land
within the United States. We have nos
sufficient information to state the quantity
owned bv untitled aliens. nor Is il so i'm.
portant, as it is generally held in smaller
bodies. This alien nonresident ownership
will, in the course OF time, lead to system
OF landlordism Incompatible with the best
interests and free institutions OF the United
States The foundation for such a system
is beiUg laid broadly ia the Western State
snd TerdtlTies a considerable
Der OF Immigrants annually arri7ifT
in this country are IL becoms
tenants and hefdsmen on the vast posses
sions Of these foreign lands, under contrae
mads and entered into before they sail 10
European capitalists have caused them T.
inuest many millions Ia American railros,
ard lard bonds, covering, perhaps, 100 600,
eco acres, the greater part of which, unde
foreclosure sales, Will most likely, befor'
many years become the property OF these
foreign bondholdsTs, IN addition to tnei
present princely possessions. 1t Is thu
manifest that Il the present large alien own
efshtp is an evil, Of which We have no
doubt, III probabilities of the near future
still more imperatively demand legislation
for is prevention. The aggressive foreign
cspitsl is not confined to the lands it has
purchased. but overlapping its boundaries
hes caused hundreds OF miles of public do.
main to be fenced Up for grazing vast herds
Of cattle. ard set st defiance the rights OF
honest but humble settlers
The Agricultural bill reported to day pro-
vides that the Commissioner of Agriculture
may use such part Of the appropriation 10.
the Bureau Of Animal Industry as he may
deem necessary, and in such way as he may
think best TO prevent the spread OF pleuro-
pneumonia The new authority vested in
the Commissioner is, however, not 70 con-
! hict with the existing lay.
The Secretary OF the Treasury has decided
! question pending for some time, involving
| the duties OF tin plates. The Law puts a
duly Of one cent per pound on the article
| commercially known ss tin plate. 1t Was
/ commended BY American manufacturers Of
sheet iron, which to some extent comes into
I coDpetitiOn with the larger sizes OF tin
| plates. that the commercial article OF tin
J plate is restricted 10 certain sizes snd thick
/ ness, and that the larger sizes ought to pass
| under q much higher duty. The Secretary,
! however decides all sheet iron coated with
tin 70 come within the classification as
! dutiasle as one cent per pound without dis
! tiDction of sile.
The President has Issued q proclamation
] directing thss the military reservation OF
/ Fort Dodge, Kas., being no longer needed
/ for military purposes be placed under the
/ control OF the Secretary OF the Interior for
deposition by sale or otherwise.
Postmaster General Hsttcn sent 10 the
! Chairman Of the House Committee on Post
ofseee snc Pest Roads draft Of DILL pro-