The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-11-01

Now, then. thers is an average of over
5000 people in each one Of those towns. I
have here two very large petitions signed BY
the citizens of this town Of Enid. Nearly all
the citizens have signed the petition TO have
arsilroad station located there,
I have q map and survey Of the town,
showing the grade, and showing IL is posi-
BILE to have the depot located on crown
where they will have a grade both ways in
starting, and where iS may be located at
very limited expense TO the railroad.
This bill has been so amended that the
railroads will not be required TO put the
depot at any special place, but they shall
locate il within One-fourth of q mile Of che
limits Of the tOVnsite, thereby giving them
liberty TO locate it on either side and to select
good location. This is in the interest Of
and for tho protection Of the people on the
public lands, including the tOwnsites. II 10
bill to CirCumvent and overre&Ch the
land grabbers who have been acting in col
lusiOn with che railroad corporations in tniS
case as they have all over the western Coun-
try; and it is a bill that ought TO pass with
out single objection in this house.
The foregoing discussion took
place on the 10Th of October and is
introduced IN order to give the reader
fair understanding of the merits Of
the question. The little controversy
between Mr.. Simpson and Mr.. Curtis
occurred on the Goth, and in order
that it may be made to fully appear
how Mr.. Simpson was psralyzed we
reproduce it entire:
Mr.. Simpson-Mr. Speaker, there should
be no opposition to the passage of this bill,
and trust that there will not be any when
members understand the necessity for it.
There seems TO have been a struggle going
on between the government, as represented
by the interior department, and the railroad
corporations.
The railroad corporations, through their
agents, have secured an amendment to the
bill opening the strip to settlement, pro-
viding that the Indian agent should locate
the Indians anywhere in the territory, in
stead Of oonfning them to the lands that
they lived upon. There Is where the whole
trouble commenced. The railroad corpora
ton in this case, in Collusion with this man
representing the Indians, have taken up the
land around the places where the town sites
were located, and left the government no
room for town sites, 80 that the govern
ment, in self defense, was forced to 90 two
miles south and locate new town site. The
railroad corporation comes in here and
wants to have this bill modified in such a
way as to locate the stations, if not st their
town sites, as near to them as possible.
Now, hold that We are not here to de-
fend the railroad corporations. We are
here TO look after the interests Of the peo-
pie. A large number Of people have settled
on these government town sites, and taken
up property there, and they look to the gov
eminent TO protect their interests, By COM
pelling the railroad corporation TO erect
depots sufficient TO meet their needs. am
surprised that members get up here, as the
gentleman from Kansss Mr.. Curtisl did
yesterday, and want TO delay this measure,
to put it of until another day, until they
can hear from these railroad corporations
to see whether the bill is satisfactory to
them or not. do not think We are here to
protect their interests. The railroad corpo-
rations 30 far in the history Of tins country,
have shown themselves sufficiently able to
look after their own interests; lot US take
care of the interests Of the people.