St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-13
OF INTEREST TO LANDHOLDERS.

Passage of the Bill Repeating the Pre-
emption and Timber Culture Laws.
WASHINGTON, Feb 12.-The senate at 1
O'Clock laid aside the Des Moines river titles
bill, aud took up the bill repeating the pre-
emption and timber culture laws.
Senator Vest read letter from q gentle
man residing in Michigan, whom, he said,
he did not know, but whose espectability had
been vouched for by senator from Michi-
gan. The letter stated the bill introduced by
Senator Palmer, apparently for the benefit
OF bonaide purchasers Of public lands, was
not in reality in their interest, but in the
interest of few persons who through collu-
sion with the government land agents, had
been enabled to buy great tracts Of public
lands at private sale, contrary to law-thus
worth S25 70 500 an acre.
With the letter were newspaper clippings
stating that BARNARD, Hill & Freeman. of
Grand Rapids, Case q Mckinney, of Mar
ouette and others now in Washin gton, owned
100000 acres of those lands.
Whoever heard,' Senator Vest asked,
''0f people
BUYING 100, 900 ACRES
Of public land without knowing what they
were buying"
With no personal knowledge of the facts
Senator Vest felt warranted in declaring this
had been a stupendous speculation in public
lands on the part of men who hoped to cOne
in and pose as innocent purchasers on the
passage Of the bill like that now before
the senate.
Senator Palmer said no doubt spectators
and lumber men had invested in lands, but
those were not the men that Senator Palmer
was seeking 10 relieve. Tae men be wanted
to help were poor farmers, who had put
their sweat and toll into their lands.
Tie amendment of Palmer now pending
to the bill would con firm and declare valid
the titles Of the lands withdrawn from sale
by reason Of railroad grants, or where lands
had been reduced in price TO Sl.25 per acre
and purchased in good faith, without the
lands having been offered at public auction.
A cloud, SeDator Palmer said, had come over
the titles of a vast number Of honest,
HARD WORKING LAND OWNERS
IN the northern half of the lower peninsula of
Michigan. They had bought the lands hon
estly and paid taxes on them twenty years,
and were now liable TO have their lands
ldhtu AAOul W OOuuAl uPclH duu
bumpers and isckaIs of every kiud. AS to
the letter read by Senator Vest be (Palmer)
knew its writer to be re-
spectacle man, but he could not
conceive what animus had caused
the letter to be written, unless it was some
private pique. He (Palmcr) hoped the thing
would he thoroughly followed up, and il it
were, be had no doubt his view would be
confirmed. He, for his part, was ready to
answer every question relating to his amend
ment without hesitation OF delay.
Senator Vest said he could not vote for 8
bill that would include in 1t
MEASURES OF RELIEF
for men who had banded together and
massed their capital TO buy public lands on
speculation. He would be always ready to
vote for confirmation of title in the case of
bouafde homesteaders. Titles spectators
had acquired in contravention of law ought
not 10 be confirmed.
Senator COnger said the measure would
relieve thousands of poor men, aud If, in
doing that, it helped also few rich men, he
(COugcr) would not on that account vote
against it II would help poor men to pro-
tect themselves against rapacious land
sharks.
Senator Vest said where lumbermen had
bought lands that had turned out to be poor
speculation, they could not claim to be re-
lievrd by congress. 1t would De Ike the
claim OF