The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-05-21
HOMES FOR SETTLERS.
AMERICAN SOIL MUST BE OWNED
BY AMERICANS.
The Bill to Prevent Aliens Prom
Acquiring Real Estate in the
United States.

WARRINGTON, May -Rsrrsse- "a
live PAyson of Illinois has prepare =
rs ort on the bill to prevent aliens
ir )m acquiring real eststs in the Ter
ritories OF toe United States. The re-
port says the bill has for lis bss the
that American soil shall
lie owned by Amt ricans so far as Con-
GEES can control it. The Committee
on Public Lends In this Congress, as
in the last, is thoroughly committed
10 the policy OF 80 administering our
public land system thai the agrcult
urAl lands Of the nation shall be
parted with without cost, TO be Id in
fma / tracts to actual settlers only for
the purposs of cultivation by the
O Sner, securing thereby the thrift. OF
the citizen and economy IN his NAV
seement which ownsrehip always |
stimulates. This policy, the report
submit s, should become the national
one. The experiences OF 81 mary |
thousands Of our people in tle eecur
ing OF homes in our vast area Of public |
lauds has been 20 successful thai the
desire for the ownership OF horne
capable of producing support for
tbs family Is more universal
here than in any county in
the world. Tuis, the report
fays, we7 the prevalent idea when the
homestead law, one OF the most bFns-
ficial acts ever adopted by Congress,
was passed 1t was the duty OF the
government to furnish to its people
cheap homes; to aid the actual settler,
v hose lab would make the land
fruitful and productive, giving added
wealth to the locality e. nd stability nd
strength to the country; it had a
magnificent position in the public
dom ia OF that time which, under
proper management, would have al
forded grand results for generations to
come. Areas OF land sufficiently large
to make great estates wtr3 donated
with reckless liberality 10 railroad
and other corporations, and by lax,
easy administrai' OF injudicious
laws, men of wealth aud companies
have been illegally permitted 10 &C
quire other great ares S OF lhe pubic
lands, aud now, this generation had
SCI the vast territory We had at its
beginning so reduced that less Than
100000 aires Of arab'e aglicul-
tural land upon which crops
can be raised without irrigation
remain for the settler under the gem
elal land laws nj the United Sta0s;
and about 50,000,000 acres only of
lands susceplio ole of improvement by
irrigation. These lands ara becoming
mole and mere valuable year by year,
aud tempted by the promise, sure to
be realized, of immense profits as well
as the absolute security OF the invest
ment, these lands, by devious meth
DDS in many cases, have been secured
in great areas and. holdings by capital.
lists and corporations, foreign ss we'll
as domestic. In the hands Of many OF
these foreign owners and holdeIs ihsee
Ian ds are made subject 10 system OF
landlordism and conditions totally un-
American, and kindred to the exist ng
old world system and conditions, which
have epread ruin and misery wherever
they have exis ed in Europe. Besides
this, out OK the heritage Of the Ameri-
can people, the common property oil
this nation-its public lands
we are at present pt Knitting the cJin'
ing OF immense private fortunes ia
the hands Of foreign nobility and
gentry at the exrente OF our own peo-
pie, and giving these foreigners the
cootrol oil the homes and haopint IS
OF Thousands of citizens, or these who
have come hers t1 identity themselves
wi hus. As sn illustration OF this q
published statement showing that
20,747 900 acres of land are he'd by
foreigners is appanded, among the
large holders mentio led are the Mar
GUS OF Tweedale, Sir Edward Reid
tue Holland Company and severa
fereigh syndica',s, the possessions
cf eich numbering millions o
of acres. There 10 70 ques ion, thu
report says, as to tie power Of Con
gress over the subject. England ex
ercited it during all The years OF he
progress, and has only recently grant
ed the right 10 hold real estate Their,
to aliens. Tue question, the repor
continues, OF how cheap HON es for tn,
poor can best he secured will tom b,
upon us. At the present rate OF dis
position this generetion will see tn
last acre of public land worth takinI
fjr a home by a farmer disposed Of.
In conclusion, the report gives tn
following summary OF the work OF tn
committee during the present sefsion
: The committee has devoted it's bes
, effcris and mos earnest endeavors
perfect aud present to the Houss 10
its consideration and action sue
: measures as, in its judgment, woul
: reclaim such lands az had been in
q provident'y granted to corr otationl
and to which they are not eatitled
also for the repeal Of such laws as reJ
/. dered possible The impro Der aCquis
= ton OF great areas OF land from tn
q government, and to preserve what
mad aud should reclaim Of the publ
lsnds as reservoir to he drawn upo
Q by the actual settler, without cost, l
% homesteads. We do this because v
If believe that not only the fostering
the home sentiment and individu
z prosperity would result, but, in add
l. ton, because We believe there is 7
Y, greater safeguard sg inst public di
m oder, tumult and riots than gei
- orally distributed ownership Of lant
= and homes.
10 The bill which this renort accor
le psnies provides that no ellen nor fo
N eigner WHO hes not declared bis iDts
!. ton to become a citizen of the Unit
- States, nor any corporation, one TEN
u, of whole sock is owned or CONTROL
n. by aliens or foreigners, shall have Il
,e right to acquire real estate in any
% the Territories of the United Sta'C
"a The bill has been sereed upon, al
N will probably be reported one d
Ia this week.
le Adversely reported.
Q WAsHINeToN, May 20.-The Hou
~ Committee on the Judiciary tod