Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-06-09
THE KNIGHTS AND CONGRESS
Demands Upon the Latter by the Former
RESOLUTIONS Adopted.

Demands Upon the Latter by the Former
RESOLUTIONS Adopted.
The Knights of Labor convention, in
session at Cleveland, adopted the fol-
owing proposition in the nature of
demands upon Congress:
First-That patents for the public lands
be given to actual settlers only.
Second-That all land owned by any indi-
vidual or corporation in excess of 160
acres, whether improved or unimproved,
shall be taxed to the full value of improved
land.
Third-Calling for the immediate forfeit
ure OF all lands where the conditions OF the
grant have not been complied with.
Fourth-Asking that patents on lands
where the conditions have been complied
with be issued forthwith, SO that taxation
may take effect at once.
Fifth-Calling for the removal OF fences
from the public domain.
Sixth-That after 1890 the government
shall by purchase and right OF eminent do
main obtain possession of all lands now
held by aliens.
Seventh-That after 1886 aliens shall be
prohibited from acquiring titles to lands.
Eighth-Asking the abolition of all laws
requiring a property qualification for
voters.
inth-Requesting the passage of law
levying graduated income tax.
Tenth-Protesting against the cutting
down of the appropriation for the labor
bureau.
Overwhelming for the passage of the
bills approved by the congressional labor
committee.
Tweltth-Asking for the passage OF a law
prohibiting the employment in mines, shops
factories, ETC., of minors for more than
eight hours per day.
In this connection the following reso-
luton was adopted:
Resolved, That we will hold responsible
at the ballot box all members of Congress
who neglect or refrain from voting in COM
pliance with these demands.
The committee on legislation made re-
port, which was adopted. Ia substance it
is a petition asking Congress to abolish
National banks, to establish fixed rate OF
interest and to establish publiclO offices.
The petition asserts that the poverty OF
the many and the amassing of great wealth
by the few are caused by vicious legislation
and the uncertainty of the value of money,
which may at the same time be worth 2
per cent. in one part OF the country and 20
per cent. in another. The petition con.
tinues:
THAT the supply OF large portion of
the money of the country is in the control
of private corporations. called National
banking associations, creatures of congress
sional legislation with whom private gain
is the only motive for supplying money to
the people; that it is through the manipu-
lations of said corporations and other
money lenders that the people suffer many
of the misfortunes and grievances herein
before mentioned, and many Others not
mentioned"
Congress is asked to fulfill it's duty OF
coming money and regulating It's value; to
fix just and unavailable rate CT interest; to
repeal all laws authorizing private corpora
tons TO issue money, and in their stead es-
tablish public loan Offices throughout the
country-at least one in every county
where the people, on good security, may OBJ
tain money at fixed rate OF interest; these
loan offices to be made repositories for the
savings of the people. All these features
were Incorporated in bill prepared by
Representative Low (Pa.), which Congress
is asked to pass.