Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-07-08
THE N. p. FORFEITURE IN THE
SENATE.


SENATE.
We extract the following from the
| Unions Washington correspondence OF
I date of June % "Probably the most
bitterly cor tested fight that has taken
place 10 the senate for many years, was
the one over Dolph's bill to forfeit the
Northern Pacific land grant from Wal
lula to Portland. The opponents to all
land grant measures, by which | mean
those who favor sweeping forfeitures,
sought and did take advantage of the
opportunity that this bill afforded to Sc.
cure a hearing for their proposition to
forfeit that portion Of the grant CT the
Northern Pacific from Bismarck to Pu-
get Sound. This, as was to be expected,
led to prolonged and at times exciting
debate, in which all questions pertaining,
either directly or indirectly, to land
grants generally were gone into, and
much legal lore displayed both by those
in favor and those opposed to sweep
ing forfeiture. Mr.. Dolph, looking to
the interests of the people Of Oregon and
Washington Territory, and in fact the
people of the entire northwest, took the
position that in equity congress at this
late day, when the road was nearly COM
plcted, was estopped from enacting any
sweeping forfeiture, and, also, in view of
the interests at stake, nothing should be
done to prevent or delay the building Of
the Cascade branch lie contended that
while the lands along the uucompleted
portion Of this grant were comparatively
worthless, still they were the basis upon
which the company was negotiating loans
with which to complete this great enter
prise, an enterprise upon the completion
of which depends in large measure the
future prosperity Of the entire northwest.
However, Notwithstanding that the force
Of his arguments was admitted by all,
the amendment to forfeit the lands along
the Cascade branch was adopted by a
small majority. The other amendment,
the one to forfeit the lands west Of the
Missouri river, was voted down. 50 the
bill as it passed the senate restores from
the public domain the grant from Wallu-
la to Portland and the grant adjacent to
the uncompleted portion of the Cascade
branch, in the latter case about seventy.
five miles. The rights Of settlers On
these lands are protected, so that in case
the bill becomes law no honest settler
need apprehend that his home will be
taken from him or that he will be at the
mercy of the land,jumper.
Now, so far as Senator Dolph's bill is
concerned, it was brought forward in the
interests Of the people it is an honest
measure, and as such is devoid of the
slightest faint Of demagogery; its object
is the accomplishment Of great public
end. And in reaching this happy result
he sought not to embarass the compile
ton Of the Northern Pacific railroad; for
as bIoadminded enlightened statesman
he believes it to be of the highest impor.
lance to its immediate constituents of
Oregon and to the people Of Washing
ton Territory, who in measure are also
his constituents, that this highway from
Lake Superior to Puget Sound should be
finished at as an carly date as possible.
So, therefore, with an eye single to those
vast interests which are dependent upon
the building of the Cascade branch, he
stoatly and persistently combatted the
proposition to forfeit the lands the un.
completed portion Of that branch of the
~a.,IB