Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-29

l also believe that it should be so
amended that where companies are COM
| posed of citizens and aliens, its pro-
visions should affect only so much as is ac-
| CURED by the alien
Trusting the discussion may perfect the
| bill in such way as to send Texas on the road
| to permanent prosperity, remain yours
truly, JOHN D. KEITH,
Representative Fifty-second District
From Representative Oils.
SHERMAN, TEX, Sept II, 1891.
Editor Gazette.
DEAR SIR.-Your letter of August 81
met me on my return from South Texas,
| and while 1 cannot hope to elucidate the
| mysteries of the alien land law, that seem
\ to be worrying the people of Texas of late, l
will modestly answer the interrogatories
| propounded to the best of my convictions
| and belief.
l. I voted for the law as it now stands,
but did so as many others seem to have
done, without the strictest scrutiny of its
| details. l then thought, and think now,
| that a law to prevent large bodies
of our lands from being held
in perpetuity by foreigners was an impera-
| tive public necessity, and voted accordingly.
2. would vote to amend section 10c by
| striking out the word Heretofore and
| leave the money of foreign capitalists to be
comply with the provisions of this act. l
! can see little to discourage loans in Texas If
| this were the law, for the lender would have
| an indefinite time in which he could draw
| interest and foreclose a lien, and a final six
| years to dispose of his lands in the event he
was compelled to buy to protect his invest
ment.
They never make loan above so per
cent of value on the property pledged, and
it would be hard to find piece of Texas
land that could not be readily cashed at
that figure.
would further amend by providing for
| the investment of foreign or corporate
money in manufactures, railroads, bust
ness houses, etc, ETC., but limit the amount
of real estate to the actual needs of the en-
terprise-the land in actual use.
| This would relieve the growing cities of
| the distress threatened from the law as it
now stands, and narrow the subject down
to the great object had in view when cast
my vote, to-wit: To protect our West
ern lands from going into and remaining
| in the hands of capitalists for speculative
purposes
The question of Americans, either cor
porations or wealthy individuals. now own
| ing vast bodies of our Western lands, IS
| conceded to be beyond the control of our
| legislature, although such ownership is no
| less menacing to our future prosperity
| than alien ownership, but the idea was to
curtail the evil where it could be reached,
and this was in my opinion the moline that
prompted the alien land law.
| 8. don't think any member of the Twen-
! ty-second legislature intended or desired to
| discourage the use of foreign capital in
| Texas. Every patriotic citizen wants to
| see the state grow in population and
wealth, both in town and country, and if,
! as is now claimed, the provisions of this
law will operate to damage or restrain the
h (f fpifi Inc ON sloC nf in
| dustries, would amend it to prevent such
| damage.
1t is too much to expect perfection in any
original law of great magnitude, and the
wisdom that comes of experience will direct
| the amendments needed.
| AS an humble member of the Twenty
second legislature felt it my duty to help
arrest the aggressions of large capitalists
| upon the cheap lands of the West. Under
mistaken policy in the past too
much of it had already been monopo-
lied, and is now held for high
prices when the coming homeseeker
requires it for settlement / saw all the
watered lands in some counties held by for
eigners, and vast domains all over the
| West. embracing the choicest platS that
! could be selected, when the choice was free,
held out of the market by men who don't
| care continental about building up Texas.
| They do not give farthing to the public
| OF private improvements VI Tue CUuutlGS
where their holdings are, but faithfully
collect whatever income is due, and draw
| it across the Atlantic to encourage royal
living and baccarat parties in for
eign lands. l further favor au
| amendment prohibiting all corporate
ownership. OF lands in Texas except as
| above indicated for manufacturers, etc,
because a corporation is without length of
| days'' and may continue its holdings in the
| face of demand for actual settlement
| until the increase in value will be bar to
''the man with the hoe" and drive this
| desirable class to other and less inviting
| lands for home.
perpetuate policy that permits the cows
and calves of foreign or corporate owners
| to horn off the man with the hoe and his
children, who would by their industry
make productive fields and happy homes
where now an Improbable waste appears.
| Permit me to say further, that it has been
| the policy of our government, both national
| and state, to sell lands in small bodies to
| actual settlers only; and to be consistent
| about the matter, l think it the duty Of
Texas Democrats to respect the party ut
| terances in convention expressed, by taking
| such steps as may be within reach to disin-
| tegrate these vast estates and force, if pos
sible, their future settlement by indus
trious householders.
| The same principles and arguments now
being invoked in opposition to this alien
| land law have been worn threadbare in
abuse of the Texas homestead law, but an
| honest verdict has come up from the masses
approving the latter, and a fair and faith
| full trial of the present much-abussd law,
after the above-suggested amendments are
made, will secure for it the Endorsement
| of popular verdict, so pronounced and
| emphatic that it viii silence the unjust and
partisan critics for all time to come. The
present law will be amended in a
spirit of fairness to all interests
| involved, but our statutes will hereafter
contain an alien land law.
Thanking you, Mr.. Editor, for the COM
pliment implied in asking me for my views
ON this important subject, am respectfully,
j. II. DILLs,
Representative Thirty first District TWEEN
ty-second Legislature.
Ideas of Mr.. VestaI.
MARQUEE. LEON COUNTY. TEX, Sept 9, 1891.