The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-08
THE HOUSE.
Discussion on the Substitute for the Senate
Railroad Lands Forfeiture Bill

0lscusslon On tne ouDstltute I0r the senate
Railroad Lands Forfeiture Bill.
In the House to-day Bland, rising to
question of privilege. had read dispatch
stating that he was absent from the silver
conference meeting on Saturday. He also
read note from Chairman CoDger, stating
that there would be no meeting on Satur-
day. He did not desire to be advertised us
not attending to duty when he was notified
that his presence was not required.
After the transaction Of some other busi-
ness, the House went into Committee of the
Whole for the consideration of the Senate
bill to forfeit certain lands heretofore
granted Tor the purpose of aiding the con-
struction of railroads, with a House substi-
tute therefor.
Payson explained that the bill in its gen.
erai provisions proposed TO forfeit and re-
store to the public domain all the public
lands, wherever situated, which have been
granted in aid of construction where rail-
roads have not been completed at this time.
There have been thirty-seven railroads
aided by acts of Congress which have not
been completed within the time fixed by
Congress. Twelve of these roads have been
forfeited, comprising nearly 50.0000 900 acres,
leaving twenty-five roads which have not
been acted upon. Nine have been fully
completed, leaving sixteen roads now un-
completed, aud the House substitute recon-
mended the forfeiture Of all the lands lying
opposite such portions of the roads as are
not now constructed. 1t was his opinion
that bill OF broader character than this
could never pass the Senate and become q
law. A careful estimate was to the effect
that the bill would restore 1900 600 acres to
the public domain.
Stone MissourD took the position that
forfeiture should De made of all lands
which had not been earned by the railroads
at the time fixed in granting the acts Tor the
completion Of the roads. The Northern
nj ns.h ln Il tNuiiY
terested in this measure. He quoted from
speeches by Payson in the Forty-eighth
and FOrty-ninth Congress upholding the
right of Congress to forfeit lands unearned
at the time fixed by the granting acts, and
attacked that gentleman for what he de-
clared was change of front pending the
legislation the railroad companies. espe-
cially the Northern Pacific, demanded of
Congress. The Speaker (Reed) in the For
ty-Seyenth Congress, when Chairman of
the Judiciary Committee, reported that
Congress had no power to forfeit an acre of
the Northern Pacific grant. Since then
Thomas b. Reed has been recognized as a
friend and Jealous companion of that great,
arrogant and corrupt corporation on the
floor of the House. This corporation knew
its friends and it stood by them most
loyalty. 1t was an open secret that no
influence had been more potential in the
organization of the House than that eX-
erted by the Northern Pacific Railroad.
The passage Of the bill under consideration
was matter of the first importance to this
corporation. The bill would pass. The
bosses must insist upon r. They could not
do otherwise, and the rest of the poor fel-
lows on the other side of the aisle with
their hands tied and their lips silent except
when the parliamentary JOSS united one
that they might clap applause OF his utter
ance or that they might chant servile
chorus to the commanding tones of his
majestic solos must follow blindly wher-
ever they we're led. But beyond their par
liamentary aut0crat there was IA great con-
stituency-the people of the United States
aud to that forum would be carried this
cause which the majority stood ready to be-
tray.
Lace Qowa) favored the pending bill.
Pending further debate the committee rose
and the House adjourned.