Omaha daily bee., 1891-02-19
ANOTHER SALT LANDS RING.
How 1t is Favored by a Bill Now Before
The House Judiciary Committee.
SOME OF ITS PRINCIPAL PROVISIONS.
Sc0tt's Senatorial Apportionment
Scheme Still Cutting Down Ex-
penses Makers leave for
the Plattsmouth Reunion.

LINCOLN, Neb, Feb. IS Special TO TnE
BEE The biennial attempt to deprive the
state of its salt lands was made again today
in the judiciary cominittee of the house, of
which Mr.. Shrader is chairman. 1t was
done in consideration of house roll 300 which
in itself is daisy. 1t bears upon its face so
much evidence of disposition to get the re-
mainder of these valuable lands into the
hands of q combine or corporation for selfish
speculative purposes that the wonder is the
bill was not strangled in its infancy.
The measure Drescribes that any lessee of
any saline lands of the state Saving and ex-
ceptinR the salt springs, the alienation of
which is by the constitution prohiblted), or
my person who shall hereafter lease any part
OF said lands, may apply in writing to the
commits sioner Of public lands and buildings
10 have the land included in his lease APP
pralsed for sale. Thereupon the commits
soner OF public lands and buildings shall in
Struct the county commissioners or supervis-
ors TO appraise SAID lands for sale. The ap-
praiSement Is to be made in accordance with
the law of 1880
After the apprasement, the applicant to
purchase may pay the appraised valuation OF
said land and be entitled to receive deed
for the same; or at his option, such appli-
cant may pay any sum not less than one
tenth OF the appraised valuation, and shall in
such case give notes for the amount unpaid.
Payment shall be made to the commissioner
of public lands and buildings, and when
made in full the purchaser shall be given a
deed to the land in question.
In case of default In payment of the ap-
praised valuation, the lease shall be forfeited
and the lands again leased. The proceeds
shall be applied to the sinking of wells for
the development and utilization of coal, salt
and other minerals.
The last provision in the bill is that one of
the proposed wells shall be located at or near
the industrial home, at or near Kearney, in
this state
The purpose of this bill was so patent to
tho members Of the committee present that
with one exception they favored that it be in
dehnltely postponed. A motion to this effect
was made and seconded, but Shrader refused
TO entertain it. He did, however, entertain
motion to revise the measure, and satisfied
himself that the motion prevailed.
gentleman who had been before the COM
mittee afterwards remarked:
There is no use in trying. You can't get
Shrader to allow one of his bills to be killed
In his committee. 1t has been tried time and
again, but without good result. There is a
steal in this bill. The alleged well at Kear-
hey is blind. What do they want a
well at Kearney forl The Kearney
canal passes through the grounds OF
the industrial institute. 1t would be
cheaper to pump water from 1t than
dig for water. As to coal and salt and
other minerals, well, what is the use of gong
elsewhere than to Lincoln to find them3
why not Degln the work at home, when so
much has already been expended2
But the idea is not to sink well Kear-
ney so much as it is to get the lands out of
the hands Of the state and into those of a
host of SPECTATORS in Lincoln who now hold
leases on some of them. Yes, and they want
to get the lands right near this city which
are worth, perhaps $40 an acre This has
been the aim of this horde for years If the
bill was not in the interest of these fellows.
why should it be necessary to confine the
sale to any lessee or who may become q
lessee:' This gives an advantage to these
sharks, and gives them notice to become
leasees In short order Of the best lands, the
moment it becomes apparent the bill is to be-
come law. This destroys competition,
even II ifcompetition was contemplated am
pretty certain that Mr.. Shraders misguided
philanthropy Will not be appreciated"