The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1890-12-24

yress. Under the act of 1854 report is
made on these claims by the surveyor
general to the Secretary of the Interior,
and by him laid before Congress and
yet in the last thirty years there have
only been few of these claims confirm
ed by Congress. From 1860 until 1869
only five private land claims were con-
frmed by Congress; from 1869 to 1879
only three private land claims were con-
frmed by Congress, and from 1879 up to
the present time-eleven years-nOt one
solitary private land claim has been con-
frmed by Congress.
Therefore, Mr. Chairman, we are COM
PEELED to look to some other forum than
the Congress of the United States to set
tie these private land claims. Various
plans have been suggested. Some mem
bers of this House suggested two years
ago that these claims be settled in the
Interior Department, but it is manifest
that that is not the proper forum to set
tie them. There are other gentlemen
who have suggested that We have boards
of commissioners. Rut boards OF COM
missioners have not worked well in the
last few years.
The Chairman. The time of the gen
tleman has expired.
Mr.. McCreary. I ask the gentleman
in charge of the bill to yield me little
further time.
The Chairman. Ten minutes more is
yielded to the gentleman.
Mr.. McCreary. The bill under con-
sideration has been carefully prepared,
and it is now generally conceded that a
tribunal clothed with the functions Of
court and authorized to judicially inves-
tigate and settle private land claims will
furnish the relief desired. The court
provided for only continues four years.
The papers in hundreds of cases are al
ready filed in the Interior Department.
There are a number of small claims in
these Territories and States named in
the bill in which the papers are not pre-
pared, and this bill is drawn so as to
meet all these cases.
1t provides that the judges appointed
are to hold their courts in Washington
and it also provides for sending out mem
bgrs of that court, to the different Ter
ritories and States named, and that they
should hold their courts in the capitals
Of those Territories or States.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, ask for the pas
sage of this bill upon another ground
have before me here the so-called trea
ties of Guadalupe Hidalgo and Gadsden
Under these treaties made between the
United States and Mexico we entered
into a solemn agreement that we would
protect the settlers that were found upo1
those lands in all the rights derived from
Mexico and from Spain.
That has not been done. Many of thu
small holders have been elected anC
they have been treated in such man
ner as that, from New Mexico alone del
egations have come here, the governor o
the Territory has been here, two Of tn,
! Justices of the district court of New Mex
leo, and a large delegation OF citizen
have been here, all asking for som
kind of a law that would settle thes
private land claims.
Mr.. Oates. l will ask the gentleman
form Kentucky whether this bill is sim
liar to the one introduced by him in tn
last Congress?
Mr.. McCreary. Yes, sir; this bill
almost exactly similar to that which
prepared and introduced in the Fiftietl
Congress, and which, after being con
sidered in this House for day, passe
the House. There are some immateria
provisions of this measure that do nc
favor, but in the main indorse the bi
that has been reported by the commit
tee.
Mr.. Chairman, it is perfectly clear
my mind that II we are going to give an
relief whatever it should be give
through a land-cOurt bill. In that way
think we can get through with the wor
in four years; whereas if we turn tn
business over to the United States dt
trict courts of the Territories and State
named it will drag along for many year
So, il We appoint board Of commi
sioners it will take years to settle tn
business, but if We send out men veste
with judicial power, il we organize
court and let that court sit in Washing
ton and send out its members to thes
States and Territories, then there will b
judicial investigation and settlement (
these private land claims, and justiC
will be done to all the parties concern
ed.
OF the Safes and Territories named
Colorado, Wyoming, and Nevada hay
already reached statehood, but ArizOni
New Mexico, and Utah are still Teri
tories and States are forging along The
are progressing, they are improving, an
we ought to protect them from the lane
pirates and the homestead wreckel
that are going out there and taking u
their lands.
The people there need protection an
they ought to have protection. Justice d,
mands, sir, that we should do somethin
for them. They have a grand countr!
They have inexhaustible mines of COL
and silver and copper They have illin
liable deposits Of coal. They hay
grand agricultural wealth. They hay
a climate as salubrious as any in tn
world There is to-day but one bligh
but one thing to retard their progress
and that is these unsettled land claims
That remains menace upon their pro!
perity and a check to their progress.
say, sir, that justice to our own Coy
eminent, justice to the people who liv
out there, justice to our obligations, III
der the treaties that we have entere
into with Mexico, demands that thi
bill should pass, and that there shout
be a speedy settlement of these Ian
claims.
A School CLOSES.