The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1890-07-05
REPORT ON ALLEN AND OWNER.
SHIP,

REPORT ON ALLEN AND OWNER.
SHIP.
The bill before congress to prohibit
aliens from holding land in this coun-
try, noticed some days ago, has been
followed up by an elaborate report
from Mr.. Oates of Alabama, one of
the members of the house judiciary
committee. Some of the statements
are OF special interest. The commit
tee ascertained that certain noblemen
in Europe, principally Englishmen.
had acquired and now own in the
United States about twenty two mil
lion acres of land. The land held by
untitled aliens probably amounts to as
much more. AS the s. F. Bulletin
well puts it, this nonresident owner
ship is leading to system of land
lordism incompatible with the interests
of free institutions in the United
States. The foundation of this alien
system is laid in the western states
and territories. 1t could not be laid
anywhere else, because it would be
impossible to consolidate such large
holdings Of cheap land in few hands
The bill does not propose to confscate
or annul any titles which have been
acquired by aliens, but 1t proposes to
create a disability on the part of aliens
for acquiring large areas in the future.
The report points out that European
capitalists have invested sums II
American railroad and land bonds
covering perhaps 100,000,00o acres
and that the greater part under fore
closure sales will, In few years, be-
come the property Of these foreign
bond-holders. Foreign capital has
been employed to fence up thousands
Of miles of the public domain for the
grazing of vast herds of cattle, to the
exclusion of the rights Of meritorious
settlers. The bill contains provisicr
which compels foreign land-holders
to cease to be such or to become
American citizens within ten years
The report afirms that the bill woulo
correct such abuses as shat of Mr..
Scully, who lives in England and is
subject of the Queen, but owns 10000
acres in Illinois, occupied by tenants,
mostly ignorant foreigners, from whom
he receives as rent 100000 yearly
aud expends it in Europe. The
Scheuley estate of about 1000 acres,
within the cities limits of Pittsburt
and Allegheny, from the rents OF
which the Scheuleys, who are subjects
of the Queen, draw annually not les
than 100000, is another instance OF
alien landlordism in America. The
tenth census shows that the Uniteo
States has $4,000 tenant farmers,
the largest number possessed by any
nation in the world" 1t is probable
that the eleventh ceusus will show
much larger number of tenant farmer
than existed ten years ago. 1t vii
also show that in the last ten years
there has been the largest area of lane
concentrated in the hands of non-resi
dent aliens ever known in the history
of the country. 1t will not escape
notice that at the same time immenst
tracts have been acquired by Ameri
cans. But these are citizens who dc
not propagate the worst evils of non-
resident landlordism. They put thei,
land on the market whenever they cal
get a reasonable advance on the frs,
cost. In this way it is segregated into
bomesteads. The number of citizens |
who own the soil and establish homes
for themselves is constantly increased.
Therein is wide difference. Th.
alien landlord is proud of his holding. |
even il it does not bring in larg'
revenue He boasts at home of his |
large dominion, and is not disposed to
furnish any encouragement to settlers
who are citizens of the country. But.
as a general rule, the American land
owner has some pride of citizenship.
The country is good enough for him to
live in it. He encourages improve
nents, likes to help along settlements
Ind raising towns. The greater part
Of all the areas now held by Amer
cans in the northwest are accessible
o settlers on some terms if the land is
it for cultivation. Whenever a col
my is seeking large tract for settle
nent it is sure to have ary number of
ffers on advantageous terms. But
hese offers rarely, If ever, are made
y alien landlords. The one system
ncourages the segregation Of land and
be requirement of homesteads, and
he other does not.