San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-02-11
COMPTROLLER SWAIN
Briefly Discusses some Leading Public
Measures.

COMP1kOLLEh SWAiN
Briefly Discusses some Leading Publ
Measures.
AUSTIN, Feb. 1T is now definit,
ly settled that tho name of Hon. Wi
liam j. Swain will be presented :
the next democratic state oonventio
for the nomination for the Office Q
governor of Texas. All doubts hav
been settled by tho following inter
view, had with that gentleman to-day
Reporter-The people are anxious
to have candidates define their viewl
upon issues Of importance, and as yo,
are recognized as prominent candi
date for governor, The Post woulc
like your views on few questions.
Col. SWAMI know of no reasons
why l should not answer your ques
tions.
Reporter-Will your name go be
fore the democratic convention fol
n nomination?
Swami presume it will.
Reporter-Will you state specific
ally what, in your opinion, should be
the policy adopted by the next legis'
lature?
Swami will. The policy that
the democratic party endorsed at its
last state convention is the policy
would specify as the proper one to be
adopted by the Twentieth Legisla,
ture. That policy is to lease the
school lands in such manner as not
to interfere with the settlement OF
the country. Unfortunately, the sys-
tenn of land laws has been SO defect
i've that the agency established by the
Legislature has been unable to carry
into full and effective operation the
policy that the party endorsed. When
I accepted the nomination made by
the last state convention, I fully ap-
proved its platform. I understand
that platform, as to the public school
lands, adopted the wise policy of
leasing the lands and selling at the
same time to actual settlers, both the
leased lands and the lands that were
not leased My experience as mem,
Der of the state land board since that
time has only confirmed the opinion
then entertained. But that, mind
you, is only an opinion as to the
POLICY THAT SHOULD GOVERN,
and does not include the enactm ent
which we were expected to execute
in order to carry out that policy. I
believe yet that tho school lands can
be leased in such manner as to real
ize large revenue, while at the
same time, they may be sold to actual
settlers and the country developed.
Arrangements are now in operation to
classify these lands, and when that is
done, it will 60 a long way toward
the solution of the question. The
want of classification has greatly en-
barassed the land board in it's opera
tions.
Reporter-By what system can the
State realize revenue from these
lands and at the same time protect
the actual settler against the evils of
land monopoly?
Swami would suggest that the
legislature place these lands in the
control of q bonded officer--for in
stance, a commissioner of the school
lands-or under the control of the
general land office, and that the pow
ers and duties of this officer with re-
spect to the school lands be strictly
defined, but that in the scope of the
powers conferred upon him his auth
ority should be absolute. I would
advise, also, that the legislature auth
oritatively declare these lands shall
not be trespassed upon, that the
State official in charge of them has
possession of them, and that the
governor of the State at the. request
of this official, shall remove trespass-
ers from them and distractions that
trespassers may place upon them.
This, L believe, is even now within
the power of the sovereignty of the
people of Texas who own these lands
or hold them in trust for their child
ren. and as in the case of an indiyid-
ual land owner, they may use such
force and power at their command as
may be necessary to remove obstruc-
tions. The State has the same right.
at least, as a private person, to take
possession through its chief agent, Of
any property the State owns and re-
move from it any fence or obstruc-
tion which may be found upon it.
Now this is no new notion, 1 advoca-
ted Just such action not long since,
in order to give effect to the land
laws in force and realize revenue
from that source. Unless the right,
which exists without any declaration
ofit, is exercised, there is neither
revenue to be expected, nor can we
protect the actual settler from the
EVILS OF LAND MONOPOLY.
But L would put an end TO all doubt
and evasion by advising legislative
which should clearly es-
tablish the doctrine that the sovereign
people Of this state must be protect
ed by the strong arm Of the govern
ment in the full possession of their
against the unlawful as
of the wealthy and the poor
alike. 1 would advise a system Of
control Of the lands that would en-
courage the farmer to enter upon
them and cultivate them 1 would