Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-05-06

The Question of Land Reform
Position OF lighthouse and Senate.
New York Herald.
The question of land reform is likely TO
occupy Congress and the country as the
most prominent work of the session for
some time to come. The revocation 10y
the President of tho Sparks order has
created deep alarm AMONG COngressmt n
of both parties familiar with the land
question. It is held by them TO be very
miscellaneous act, and one which makes
absolutely necessary the passage at this
session of bills now before the House re-
pealing bad land laws and other bills for
feiting lApsed land grants.
The direct consequence of the Prehi-
nent's revocation of the Sparks order WIS
that the House gave its public lands coil-
mittee Fright of way leave, that is to
say, TO call mp its bills at any time except
when regular appropriation bills may he
under consideration. The best men OF
both parties in the House nrs united in
the determination tosaveat once AS much
as possible of the public lands; to re-
claim, by forfeiture and otherwise, all
| that can be recovered of the millions
upon millions of acres which, under the
action of bud OF careless laws and Of re.
| sulting court decisions, have been held
| subject to the claims of corporations and
| syndicates. No House of Representatives
| for many years has shown so strong II
| disposition 10 take hold of this question
in the interests of the people, 1t must
| be added that since the revocation of the
Sparks order and the veto by the Presi-
| dent of the Des Moines Lands bill those
members who earnestly desire reform of
| the land system have so far lost hope of
the Presidents earnestness in this matter
| that they are more than ever DESTROYS and
determined TO do what is needed by legis.
lntion and trust as little MS possible to nd
iuinistrative action.
The Land Grant Forfeiture bills pre-
| pared IN the House Public Lands com
| mftcc will restore to the public domain,
| il they are uasscd and not vetoed, one
| hundred and twenty million acres of land,
now and much Of it for very many years
wrongfully withheld from settlement for
homesteais and from the possession OF
the government and the people. II the
| Committee on Private Land claims does
its duty, aud If Mr.. Sparks, the commits
siuner of lands, receives the support
from the President, which every friend
of land reform in Congress says he ought
TO have tor his measures. eighty millions
more will be recovered to the use Of the
people.
While the friends of land reform in
Congress ARE energetic and have tb(
sympathy of the House, and 10 some OK
tent of the Senate also, the necessary
legislation cannot be obtained at this SEES
sion unless public opinion makes itsel
powerfully felt. There are influences
powerful and adroit, in aud out Of Con
gress, to set up obstacles against sucl
legislation. A great many millions o
dollars of corporate capital are arraye,
against it, and the whole weight of thi
influence will be cast to secure delay o
to stuliify and make imperative propose
legislation by amendments, which Away
nave harmless look, but which have I'll
double purpose of either defeating II jus
bill or Of making its provisions useless
it becomes law.