The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-15
The Rnnnfe-

The House then adjourned.
The senate.
Immediately after routine business
in the Senate, Senator Dolph move
that the Northern Pacific forfeiture
bill be taken up.
Senator Beck urged that the Senate
take up instead the motion entered by
Ser ator Hawley, prohibiting members
OF Congress from accepting fees or EN-.
ployment from railroad companies that
have received aid from Congress. Sen
ator Beck thought this a privileged
gus ion.
The Chair did not think II a pIiyi-
legged question pending another mo.
ton.
The forfeiture bill was taken up,
and 5 nator Call took the floor and
resumed his remarks in support Of the
proposition TO forfeit all lands not
earned within the time prescribed by
Congress.
Senator Mitchell offered an amend
ment to exclude from forfeiture the
lands coterminous with the completed
port n Of the Canada branch. II the
company could not complete the Can
ada branch the farmers and producers
OF the Pacific Northwest would have
10 remain At the mercy Of the Oregon
Railway and Navigation Company.
Senator Mitcheli discussed the pure
ly legal a'psCt Of the question of the
right OF the Government to forfeit.
In this discussion Ser atoIs George,
Eus is, Van Wyek and Coke partici.
patel.
Senator Hearst said that since the
railroad company had taken all the
good land, gnd had nsed il, thew
should not be allowed to throw up the
poor land and thus relieve themselves
of their ie5porsb iities. There ought
10 be some way devired 10 compel
them to fulfil theit obligations and
com 'lete the road ,g5
Senator Van Wyck, referring to the
Argument OF the company's friends,
that Congress had no right to forfeit
those lands, 81 d that whenever
question of forfeiture came before
Congress we were confronted with
novel and Startling propositions, Our
friends, the Senators from Oregon,
protested, but Il might be thought
they protes I'd too much.
Senator Mitchell said he was not ar
guing the MISTER from the company's
standpoint, but from the standpoint of
the people rom the section of country
Affected,
Senator Van Wyck said we had
huilt three lines 10 the Pacific, and ali |
''' patriots" who came to Congress
propositions to build those lines
Ssed TO be aotuated by n desire
g COMPETITION" first with the
inc end then with the railroad
The first thing the companies
viewer was to combine with
,other to destroy the railroad
tition, and then combine TO bny
1 corrupt the ocean lines. Sen.
van Wyek held that If Congress
fright to forfeit the land for
VA oh Of the conditions under which
It was granted, Congress had a right
70 date The forfeiture from the date of
the breach OF the conditions, only TAX.
Ing care Of the rights Of settlers. He be-
heved Congress ought now TO forfeit
everything which it had a right TO
forfeit on the 4th Of July. 1870 Ho
referred ironically TO the Ihigh-eound.
ing resolutions Of both political par.
ties passed every four years about
railroad iorleitures and Preserving the
puohc domain Tor actual settlers"
and oontrssed these resolutions with
what he declared 10 be the fact. that
thing. my
There being difference Of oninion
IN the Senate as to what should be- for.
leited, senator Ven Wyck would be
prepared to take The largest measure
Of forfeiture that the Senate was pre-.
Senator Mcmillan said he would
vote against the amendmentof Senator
yam Wyek for the reasons stated bv
senator sherman and Others. He
,Sena or McMillaDl eaid that the
pa sage OF That amendment would he
loi = great ioiushee to thu people
u Washington Territory. Whoever
made the mistake Of fodeiting the Caf-
'a'e grant would sooner or later dis.
'over their error.
Senator Brown said the government
had inspected this road az each TWEEN.
y-hve miles was completed: and ON
me favorable cert flCats of the govern.
nents agents each section was accent.
81 IS complete according to the con-
,Iact whether there was legal
,,stoppaI or not, 1t was very clear 10
senator Browns mind that there was
m equitable esloppel. The severn.
nent gave 30 Notice that 1t would in
ISL on forfeiture, aud the government
&c p, ed the road in sections as com
'leted. The seventy-fye uncomp eted
III es OF the Cascade grant instituted
most important section of the road.
mo e completion was of the utmost
consequences to the people of the
O
senator George desired TO speak, but
he hour being late a suggestion was
nade that be defer his speech till TO- !
morrow.
A motion to 20 into executive ses- ,
0n was detected by the Republic :
ns, as was slso a motion 10 adjourn. !
Senator George, therefore. begin !
is remarks, but bad not proceeded
II when another motion to 20 into /,
< cutive session was made, but met
ne fac Of the former motion.
Several motions to ljourn then /;
lternsied with motions to 20 into ,
xeoutive session, all falling. !
s nator Edmuuds suggested that )
be Senator'S who profess I'd most snx- :
,iy to have a forfeiture bill passed !;
semed most determined not to come i
} a vote on IT,
Senator George said the criticism
Guild not apply 10 him. While pro- {
eeding With bis RIM ,rks, the Senate /
eng in get confusion, Seuator q
ieoIge remarked that if Senator'S in Q
lated on his proceeding with hik re-. 4