The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-02-26
ALIEN. LAND OWNERS.
Mr.. Oatess Bill 70 Prevent Land.
lordism In the United states.

WAsHINGToN, January 2i.-Rspre.
sentative Oates, from the Committee
on Public Lands, has prepared report
on the bill to prohibit aliens and for
eigners from acquiring or owning land.
within the United States, which the
COMMITTEES has reported to the House
with the recommendation that II
should pass.
Mr.. Oates says: "Your committee
ascertains with reasonable certainty v
that certain nOblemen of Europe, ,prin-
cipally Englishmen, have acquired
and now own in the aggregate above
2l 600 900 acres of land within the
United States; We have not sufficient
information TO state the quantity
owned by untitled aliens. nor 10 it 90
important. as it 10 generally held In
smaller bodies. This alien non-resi
dent ow wnership will in the course OF
time lead to u system of lapdloraism
Incompatible With the best interests el
the free institutions of the United
states. The foundation Of such q sys-
tenn IL being laid broadly In the West.
erp States and Territories. A consid.
cradle number of the immigrants an
BualIy arriving In this country are iU
become tenants snd herdsmen Oh the
| vast possessions of these foreign lord.
under contract made and entered into
before they sail for our shores. The
avarice and enterprise Of European
capitalists have caused them to invest
many millions in American railroad
and lsnd bonds, covering perhaps 100,
900 ,001 acres, the greater part Of which
under foreclosure sales. will most likely
before many years become the proper
~ of these foreign. .bondholdsrs, in ad
dition to their present prlncsly pos.
sessions. 1t il thus manifest il the
present large alien ownership IL an
evil, Of which we have NO doubt, the
probabilities of the near future still
more imperatively demand legislation
for its prevention. This aggressive
foreign capital is not confined to Il q
lands it has purchased, but, Overleal
ing its boundar e., has caused hui :
dreds of miles Of the public domain to
be fenced up for the grazing of vast
herds of cattle aud set at defiance the
right of honest but humble settlers. f"
The policy of the government hereto
fore toward aliens has been character
lied by great liberality, and the di fer
done still further upon the idea of the
desirability of a rapid increase of pop
uIation and wealth, and by Legislation n
have conferred upon aliens rights far
beyond those they enjoyed by treaty
stipulstions, common law, or the law
| of naiions.
The bill herewith reported proposes
| as a part of the foreign policy of this
country to operate only prospectively
and, therefore, not harshly to prevent
absolutely the citizens or subjects oi
other nations, SO long as they adhere
to and retain their allegiance other
powers, from acquiring ownership OF
| the American soil within the jurisdic
ton of the United States. We main
tain that the American soil should be
owned exclusively by American citi.
| zsns.. Perhaps objection may bs made
to the bill on the ground that its ten.
dency will be- to drive foreign capital
| from this country. If it were, we are
not quite sure that any permanent
harm would result thereform to any
one on this continent.
The mortgages and land bonds held
by aliens would not be materially i'm.
paired by the law proposed. They are
deeds of trust and can be foreclosed,
and the lands sold in default of pay.
ment by the alien holder, as we'll as by
citizens. Neither can he, according
to law, buy at his own sale, because OF
the conflict of interest with duty, uh-
less it is as stipulated In the contract,
and this being known can have no
| other effect upon future foreign in
vestors in this class of securities than
to make them . little more careful
and Not to rely upon the prospect oi
ultimate ownership of the land mort
gagged.