Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-16
A VOTE FOR FORFEITURE.
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAIL
ways WINGS CLIPPED.


BIN Briefly Stated.
WASHINGTON, June 15.-In the Senate
to-day, on motion of Mr., Dolph, the North
ern Pacific forfeiture bill was taken up
and Mr.. George resumed his remarks on
the bill.
Mr.. George entered on an elaborate
legal argument to show that the COM
parry was not entitled to any lands not
earned strictly within the terms of the
grant.
Mr.. George finally contended that un-
der the granting acts the power of Con-
gress was ample and its duty plain to
take possession of the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company and either sell itOr do
with it as Congress might otherwise see
fit, in order to complete the line Of road
for the building of which the land was
originally granted.
The amendment of Mr.. Van Wyck was
then brought to vote. That amendment
declares forfeited the lands coterminous
with the portion of the Cascade branch
not completed at the date of the passage
of the pending bill. The amendment was
agreed to by vote of "a yeas to Is nays.
THE VOTE ANALYZED.
or the affirmative votes nine were Re-
publicaus-Messrs Aldrich, Chace, Gull
lOm, Harrison, Logan, Sp0oner, Teller,
Van Wyck, and Wilson OF Iowa. OF the
negative votes three were Democratic
Messrs. Brown, Payne and Pugh. Other
wise than as just noted, the Affirmative
votes were Democratic and the negative
votes Republican. Quite a number OF
pairs were announced.
Mr.. Eustis then formally submitted his
amendment already suggested, being
provision in the nature of substitute
fOrfeiting all land cOterminous with such
portions of the road as were not cOmplnt-
ed on July 4, 1879, excepting the right of
way, and excepting also lands included
in village, town or city sites. The amend
ment provides for confirmation of titles OF
actual settlers.
TO BE APPLIED GENERALLY.
Mr.. Beck suggested that If we were TO
adopt the policy presented by Mr.. Eustis'
amendment then 1t should be applied
generally, so as to cover all land grant
roads. and that the subject had better be
considered by the committee.
Mr.. EustIs supported his amendment.
He was in favor of dealing with all alike
as far as the cases were parallel.
Wherever breach OF condition had not
forfeit the land.
Mr.. Vance INQUIRED what hardship or
injustice would be done if Congress as
serted the rights of the people in this
matter of land forfeiture. After an inves-
tigation of railroad land grants, he had
come to the conclusion that Congress
would be justified in resorting to every
lawful method to forfeit unclaimed lands.
THE YANKEE sCARECROw.
Mr.. Vance wished be could prepare
for this purpose bill as effective as the
Yankee scarecrow was said to have been.
That scarecrow was said to have been so
effective that it not only scared the crows
cut OF the corn field but compelled them
to bring back the corn they stole last
year. TLaughter.l He inquired what
was to happen in this country when all
the public lands should be in the hands of
railroad companies, who would hold them
at prices so high that the people could
not get them.
TELLER DEFENDS HIS PARTY.
Mr.. Teller defended the course OF the
Republican party as to the purity and
patriotism of It's motive and conduct in
relation to the public land. He did not
think it becoming IN the Senator from
North Carolina to criticise those land
grants. Those grants were made by men
who acted with the best lights they had at
the time. The Senator from North Caro-
lima and his friends were at that time in
arms against the government OF the United
States. 1t was not strange that men OF
those times were not as farsfghted as
some Senators might now suppose they
might have been. There was one strong
purpose operating on Congressman at the
time those grants were made, which was
apt to be forgotten now, namely: that In-
ducements had then been made to the
people OF the great West to cast in their
lot with other people not then friendly TO
the government.
DELIVERED INTO YANCE's HANDS.
Mr.. Vance remarked that when, in
answer to an argument against the waste
full and extravagant land policy, a Senator
got up and said he MIR. vance, took part
IN the late war, then Mr.. Vance knew that
the Lord had delivered that Senator into
his Mr.. Vance's) hands. Laughter.
Mr.. Teller replied that from what he
understood, the Senator from North Caro-
lima was rather an unwilling participant
in that war at some times; that he was
not, perhaps, as energetic as some others,
though he did participate in it. But Mr..
Teller had not referred to the late war for
the purpose of rejecting on any Senators,
but 10 show that at the time referred 10
maintain the integrity ofthe empire.
PIECE OF sTATEsMANsHIP.
Mr.. Hawley contrasted the condition OF
the Western country before the Pacific
roads were built, and said the building Of
those roads was piece OF statesmanship.
1t might perhaps have been well 10 fix
low maximum price At which the lands
should be sold and limit 10 the number
Of acres that might be held by one person
so as TO avoid great accumulation In one
hand. The railroads had. however, under
great difficulties been such a blessing 10
the country that the government ought
not TO use against them the arguments OF
Shylock. The United States government
ought 10 be q gentleman among govern
ments.
Mr.. Logan hold opinions similar to those
OF Mr.. Hawley, and opposed Mr.. Eustis'
amendment.
THE VOTE.
Messrs. Edmunds aud Conger also op-
posed Mr.. Eustis' amendment, which was
rejected by a vote Of II yeas to % nays,
as follows:
YEAB-Mesers. Berry. Blackburn. Call,
Cockrell. Coke, Euatia, George, Gorman,
Harris, Nancy, NanWyck, and Wilson OF
Maryland-i2.
NiYEs- Mossrs. Allison. Beck, Blair,
Bowen, Brown, Chase, COnaer. Culom,
ley. Hoar, fngalls, Jones OF Nevada, Logan,
McMlAan, Mahone. Miller, Mitchell Of ore
gOD. Payne. Plumb, Pugh, Ramon, SAWYER,
sherman, spooner, Teller walshali,hnd VIII
DIR. Van wyck offered an amendment