The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-11-18

~ private life, shall stand by that
pieoge and 70 the best of nv abilities
ana opportunities, contribute in every
way to an early and complete triumph
OF revenue reform.
senator Beck, of Kentucky. was
caHed upon to respond TO the moment
Gus toast, The Treasury Surplus and
1arin. He declared tina: need es
5a1aton has brought on our troubles.
Inc surplus revenues of government
were produced By excessive tax
Suon, and can only be stopped
by reduction OF the taxes.
We cannot lock up hundred of mil
Mons In the Treasury without bank
rupting the people by depriv ng them of
their circulating medium God knows
our appropriations are extravagant
enough now and surely we ought not to
ouy bonds not due at any premium
the holders OF them may see st 70
demand. Therefore, nothing remains
tcat can see except to reduce taxes to
point needed for he wants Of govern
iAent II Congress has not sense enough
70 DO that, and / am afraid il has not.
rather than have the money locked up
the appropriation increased or extray-
agant premiums paid, l shall propose.
before this Congress adjourns, 10 loan
the surplus al say 2 per cent. per 2nnum
20 any one who will deposit the outstanG-
ing AZ per cent. bonds of the United
otates as security, appOrtioning the
amount loaned in the first instance
among the States IL proportion 20 the
popuiauon, and authorizing either
party 10 cancel the TRANSACTION by
giving the other six months notice. II
the citizens OF several States DO not
take This proportion, | would after
ninety days make it free for AL Some
better plan 70 get the money restored
70 circulation may be suggested. II
sly or you can do IL. l hope you will
nave no purpose except to keep the
surplus IN use till we can pay our debts
and avoid the payment OF exorbutaut
premiums, making extravagsnt appro-
pTiations, or worse than all. locking up
In our vaults the peoples money. All
We need is the removal of unnecessary
and unjust burdens. The manhood
and muscle OF our people will soon
secure our supremacy.
w. a. Sparks. Commissioner of the
General Land Office. in speaking upon
The public landslide peoples herit-
sge for homes. gave his views upon
the proper policy TO be pursued by the
government IN regard to each class of
Pablo lands. BE held that while the
obligations of the government SO far as
incurred must be carried out, the
effects of this doubtful and mistaken
land grant legislation must not be so
magnified that while requiring of the
government strict compliance with its
part OF the contract. the corporations
shall be allowed unlimited license
to violate theirs. It was true that it
takes tUn parties to make bargain,
and II was equally true that the failure
of one party to contract is release OF
the obligations Of the other He was
prepared TO say that IN the grants
amounting TO 1iO,O0O,O0 acres there
has been no such compliance with the
law by its companies a. binds the gov
eminent TO any legal obligation in re-
spect to the granted lands. By the
Northern Pacific Railway alone.
nearly 10000, 900 acres of the peoples
heritage for homes was being uniustly
withheld. An act should be passed
declaring forfeiture OF the grants.
If only to the extent OF portions OF
the uncOnstructed roads at the time
fixed by law for their entire compile
ton. such an act. while a measure
OF partial justice only, would leave 10
the companies at their average price OF
lands more than enough 10 meet the
legitimate cost OF the entire construc
ton OF their roads. Great land grants
ID private individuals, Commits Toner
Sparks said, were nearly ali made for
colonization purposes, aud were not
binding unless the conditions involved
have been complied with. His
Characterization of these grants
was almost equally sweeping with
that OF the railroad lands. The
manner IL which existing laws
operate in regard TO swamp lands, pre-
emptiOns. homesteads, timber culture
and desert lands, was unspsringly con-
demned by the speaker. Before resum-
ing his seat. Commissioner Sparks
briefly reviewed his course Of Office, and
declared that b 5 efforts had been di
rected solely 10 the prevention of Illegal
control of lands, the recovery OF those
fraudulensly held, to which title has
not yet been passed. and to the protec
ton Of the lands for settlement and the
benefit of the actual inhabitants.