The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-04-23
CARTER HAS The FLOOR
The nontanta Member's Committee
Shares In q Running Debate.
Asking That the Territories be Per-
United to Offer Better Opportun-
lily to Foreign Capital In the
Way Of Mining Ventures.

Way OF Mining ventures.
In the house of representatives We'd
ncstay. April ID, Mr.. Carter, on behalf OF
the committee on mines and mining,
called UP the bill To amend the Alien and
law.
Mr.. Hopkins: would be glad 10 have
the gentleman from Montana MIR. Car
ter explain the law Of which this bill
is amendatory.
Mr.. Carter: Mr.. Speaker, the law Of
which this proposed act is amendatory is
commonly known as the "Alien Land
law" Ii was originally intended to pre-
vent foreigners from acquiring title To
vast tracts of land in western territories.
The law was made applicable to the ter
ritories alone. The good purpose sought
to he accomplished carried with IL a pro-
hibition of the investment of foreign cap
ital in the mines of the Rocky Mountain
region. This was not originally intended.
Tbe purpose was to prevent foreigners
from acquiring control over the broad
acres OF the country.
grams. 1850 feet by 600, the maximum
amount Of land that can he located as a
mining claim being about twenty acres.
The land has no value. as a rule, except
Tor the mineral deposited In IL. When the
mineral is extracted b land is useless
for every purpose. These mines are or.
dinarily discovered by poor mem: u
il is "A notorious fact that the de-
velopment Of a mine So as to put
il upon a paying basis requires the invest
Of a large amount OF capital. To
deny To the discoverer OF aquartz O the
privilege Of finding the necessary capital
in whatsoever market he may limits the
beneficial results Of tho discovery he has
made. Throughout the territories Of the
West. where this law was made applic-
able, the sentiment In favor of its repeal
Is universal. Petitions have been sent To
congress and legislatures have memorial.
iked this body for years for the purpose OF
inducing congress to raise from the people
Of those territories thi = vast incubus that
rests upon their growth and prosperity.
Mr.. Speaker, the government OF the ter
ritories by congress, we think should he
n government In conformity, as FAR rs
practicable, with the will Of the people
governed. Inasmuch as the people of the
territories desire the repeal OF this law In
so far as applicable To their mines, and
in view OF the further fact that such repeal
will necessarily result In giving an i'm
pctus To the mining interests OF the terri
tories, we think no reasonable objection
can possibly be urged to the passage Of
the bill. IL further explanation he deemed
necessary or desirable, ! will yield To the
gentleman from Arizona MIR. Smith,
who introduced the bill, such time as he
may desire Ia explain the needs Of the
people and the popular sentiment in re-
gard To the subject in the regions specially
concerned.
Mr.. Buchanan Of New Jersey: Before
the gentlemen yields the hoor, will he per-
mita question?
Mr.. Garter: Certainly; with pleasure.
Mr.. Buchanan 81 New Jersey: Upon
49,. al.a
the so-called alien land law only aims at
the preservation of the broad acres of the
public lands from foreign capitalists, and
was not intended 90 prevent the gobbling
mp, by foreign syndicates, of the gold aud
silver and lead and tin mime Of the
country.
Mr.. Garter: In response To the gentle
ma | will say that ! base il upon the
proposition that the original demand for
this law arose from the Tact that syndi-
Gates In the Territory of Wyoming. as
well as in other western territories, had
acquired immense tracts of agricultural
lands which were being fenced in To- the
dctriment Of those who desire To settle up
the country throughout those regions.
This agitation IN the western territories
led To the passage of this law originally.
Let me say further TO the gentleman from
New Jersey that we nave been industri-
ously striving in the various states Of the
sl'e - W fhtsf-
ing interests. The first proposition to
secure "a capitalist to purchase "a gold or
silver mime IL made to the merchant or
banker living in the immediate vicinity.
" IL occurs that he does not possess
The necessary capital, the indivi-
dual wishing to sell wcnds his
his way To chicago or ~. Louis and drums
the market thoroughly. Failing tn find "a
purchaser, u his means hold out, lac goes
an 10 New York IN the hope Of finding IA
purchaser. but failing to find some one
there willing TO invest, we insist that the
good Of the western country demands
that he should he permitted la go into any
other market OF the world where capital
can he found cheaper and investments
more liberal. This advantage is now
enjoyed by every state Of the Union, and
II Is not just. IL is not generous on the part
Of congress To insist that the territories
sha be- placed at a disadvantage over the
adjoining states in any matter which con-
tributes so largely to their prosperity. or
which may hinder, on the other hand. their