Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-11-16

ingenuities in extortions and humilia-
tons were also imposed. After the new
croft was improved, ct the ter min alton
of the usual nineteen years lease, adj
ditional rental was demanded. If not
paid the croft was rack-reuted, or leased
to new tenant. The terrified crofter
rather than become homeless attempted
the new burden, struggled along under
increasing arrears, and was finally evic-
ted, securing no compensation whatever
for his improvements. If he entered the
presence of the factor or agent with his
hat on his hands in his pockets, or left
the door open, he was fined. The rent
OF every tenant on an estate has had his
rent raised because the first tenant call
ing with his money was few moments
late. Sons on attaining their majority
could only remain upon the estate on the
written consent of the proprietor.
Crofters were liable to prosecution for
using any road or foot path not pre-
scribed by the proprietor. An entire
page of this paper might be filled with u
truthful recount of similar
TYRANIEs AND GRIEVANCES.
But organized agitation in behalf of the
crofter, similar to that adopted by the
Land League for Ireland, at last secured
the concession of a royal commission of
inquiry into the condition of the High
lands. Although, from the fear OF re-
prlsals by landlords and factors, not one
half the wrongs of these people were
made known, a condition of things was
brought to light which shocked the coun-
try. 1t must also be borne in mind that
the constitution of that commission was
essentially conservative. But these dis
u
parliament passed what is popularity
known as "The Crofters' Act.'' This
fixes, by a royal commission whose MEM
bers travel from point 20 point receiving
evidence and making adjudications,
what are called "faIr rents, to which
both proprietor and crofter- tenant are
bound. in all cases of crofters paying an
annual rental of $50 or less. The COM
mission also has power to deal with
arrears.
The terrible odds against which these
helpless people for more than q century
fought for mere existence IS clearly
shown by the outcome of the annual pro-
ceedings of this Crofters' commission.
In July of the present year on the estate
OF keiss, near Wick the crofters secured
an average reduction of 81 per cent.
while rs per cent. of their arrears were
cancelled. In the island of Stroma, lying
in the Pentland firth, opposite John
O'Groat's house, the same reduction
and cancellation were made. On one
estate in Caithness rent reductions have
been as great as so per cent. while 80
per cent of arrears have been Cancelled.
Perhaps one-half of the entire territory
OF the northern ana western Highlands
has been already adjudicated upon by
the commission. On an average fair
rents have been established at a reduce
ton OF 40 per cent. The Infamous in
EQUITY and injustice of former years have
been Illustrated and partially atoned for
by the commission, in an absolute can
collation. of more than one fourth of
existing arrears, and reduction or can
collation. of fully IS per cent. of the re-
mainder. A far greater good has also
been accom- piished. Under the orofters'
act ''Poor Donad'' is to- day pretty
nearly free man.
Under the old conditions he could
never pay his rent. .'It was not ex-
pected he would, ~ a factor confded to
me. ''He was more manageable when
you could hint of q notice and re-
moval. In other words. landlords,
while certainly rapacious for the las,
farthing that could be piuchsd out of
the crofter. in cold blood actually CAL