The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-06
LAND FORFEITURES
The House Devotes Most of the Day
to the Senate Bill.

WASHINGTON, July Sin the house to-
day Mr. Holman called up the senate land
grant forfeiture bill with amendments
made by the house committee. AS amended,
the bill, which, as it came from the senate,
proposed 20 forfeit grants applying to lands
lying opposite portions Of aided roads not
now completed declares forfeiture of lands
lying opposite those portions of the roads
not completed at the time specified i'll the
granting acts. After the substitute had
been read amendments were offered as fol-
lows:
By Mr.. Stone of Missouri-To declare
complete forfeiture of the entire grant
where road was not completed in time.
BY Mr.. Payson Of Illinois, representing
the minority of the oommittee--To contine
forfeitures to lands opposite the portions OF
roads not now complete.
BY Mr.. Stockdae cf Mississippi, and Mr.
Herbert of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS lands
granted to the Gulf and Ship Island, and
Girard and Mobile railroad companies, and
sold to actual settlers by the states for taxes
EXPLAINED by MR. HOLMAN.
Mr.. Holman explained the nature of the
proposition before the house coming from
the committee and pointed out the differ
ence in the effect between il and the senate
bill. He said that the senate bill would de
clare forfeiture of 5,627 ,43o acres, while the
pending bill would work forfeiture of
81 ,323, ,996 acres, subject to bona fde
sales to settlers AS he was arguing that
railroads had no right to sell lands
lying along uncompleted portions of their
lines, Mr.. Payson interrupted him to ask
if he did not know that the supreme court
had laid down precisely the opposite doc
trine! Mr.. Holman declined to be interro-
gated and continued his explanation OF the
feature of the bill. He held that
N m
spectators, but even though it was
going further than justice required the
committee had recommended that to the
extent that roads had been completed sales
made to bona tide purchasers should be
confirmed. This would leave the declara-
ton Of forfeiture solely as n matter between
the government and tho corporations, who
themselves had no claim on the forbearance
of congress. He then went on at length to
defend the course of thedemocratic party in
granting lands to railroad companies
Mr. Herbert of Alabama spoke briefly to
his amendment, urging the justice of con-
firming the title of b-na fide purchasers of
land of the Mobile grant.
ATTITUDE OF MIR. CLEMENTS.
Mr.. Clements of Georgia gave notice that
he should vote for the measure which
promised the largest restitution to the people
of their lands, SO that they might secure
homes. He did not believe that the con-
duct and management of these railroads
toward the government had been such Us to
demand any consideration or sympathy
beyond their strict legal rights.
Therefore the limit of power
of congress to forfeit these lands
was the only limit which he should consider
There was no more obligation upon con
gress than to pass this bill, and he would
vote for the largest forfeiture and leave the
railroads to secure their rights in the courts
if there were any doubt about the power of
congress. This great public domain, nc
quired and earned by sacrifices, treasures
and statesmenship Of the fathers was the
heritage OF the p6ople and should be re-
claimed for their homes.
MIR. OATES WANTS IT ALL.
Mr.. Oates of Alabama was in favor of
the forfeiture of every acre of land that
could legally be forfeited. As to the position
taken by the chairman of the committees
(Mr. Holman) it was the. most utterly
illogical ever taken by lawyer The fact
that many of the grants were impolitic and
ought never to have been made had moth
ing to do with the present proceeding. The
question was what could and should be
done. He favored the amendment presented
by the minority of the committee
Mr. StocKdae pleaded for Gulf and Ship
Island railroad, holding that it had not had
an opportunity to comply with the terms of
the grant, but was now hard at work and
be wished to save what had been already
done.
In concluding the debate Mr.. Holman
advised the house that the senate bill meant
nothing and the members would be deceiv-
ing the country by passing it.
VOTING ON THE PR oPosITIoNs.
The first proposition in order was Mr..
Stones amendment to make the forfeiture
complete as to all lands where tho terms of
the grant had not been complied with
Upon an yea and nay vote tho amendment
was rejected by 30 yeas to l04 nays.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Stockdale
excepting the Gulf and Ship Island grant
was next rejected without disvsion.
Mr. Herbert's motion to amend so as TO
confirm the title to lands sold by the Girard
and Mobile railroad company met with
like fate, and the question was then put on
Mr.. Payson's minority amendment, similar
to the senate bill The yeas and nays being
taken the amendment was rejected by a
vote Of II yeas 10 92 nays.
The committee's substitute was then
adopted and the question recurring on the
passage of the bill rs amended the vote re-
suited in l4l yeas to IL nays This was not
"A quorum and so the house at 605 o'clock
adjourned, leaving the bill the unfinished