The morning call., 1894-03-18
SETTLERS RIGHTS.
Bowers Appeals Are in
Vain.
HE MADE A RINGING SPEECH
And Scored Democrats for Being
Tools of MonOpolies.
He MADE A RINGING SPEECH
POOR MEN ARE NOT PROTECTED.
Failure to Secure Money to Fight
the Grasping Land Suits of the
Southern Pacific.

WASHINGTON, March 17.-Representa-
tive Bowers in the House to-day was de-
feated in his attempt TO have sci aside
$4,000 10 defray the expense Of defending
the cases of settlers in Fresno, Tulare and
Kern counties, Cal, whose lands are now
claimed by the Southern Pacific Rail-
road.
Mr.. Bowers has his war paint on and de-
clares he will keep up his fight. He will
raise point of no quorum whenever there
is none present, and will make life IN the
House of Representatives a burden to
those Congressman who posed the pass
age OF his Just resolution. MIR. Bowers
says other railroads than the Southern Pa
cific are opposed TO the passage of his reso-
luton, and that they are all pooled for
their common benefit.
In his speech Mr.. Bowers said: "This is
a lump sum for contingencies that may
arise wherein the Attorney General will
need special counsel. My amendment t
does not add dollar to this appropriation
bill. 1t simply says that here is a contin-
gency that has arisen. aud the Attorney
General is authorized TO expend $1,000 of
the $4,000 for special purpose IN this
case. There are from 1900 to 1900 settlers
with families on public lands in Califor-
MIA who hold United States patents for
those lands. The Interior Department
has been disposing of these lands and
issuing United S ates patents for them to
settlers for the last six years. The depart
ment is issuing patents for those lands to-
day. The railroad company claims them,
aud has commenced suit to set aside those
patents. Those settlers went on 10 the
desert and they have made a garden of 1t.
They now ask the United States District
Attorney tn appear and defend the right
of the United States 10 sell those lands
and the continuance of their right to con-
tinue TO sell those lands aud patent them,
as they are doing to-day.
"Is il a fact that the Attorney General
| is prohibited by law from appealing in
these cases, where American citizens have
| gone on to public lands. complied with the
| law and obtained patents Issued to them
| by the United States? and is it possible
! that when those patents are questioned
| the great law officer of this country has no
right to appear? He may appear in pat
| ent cases; he may appear for any corpora
ton. railroad or anything else, except for
these settlers. Where is there any such
law prohibiting him? l want to introduce
bill before | go home to-day to repeal
such an infamous law if there is one. Ii
seems inconceivable to me that Repre-
seniatives of the people of the United
| States can refuse this amendment. l have
| had read a II tier of the Commissioner OF
the General Land Office saying that it will
be an outrage if you do not do it.
! american citizens have gone to these
desert lands and made homes there; have
done all the work of opening the lands,
which were not worth cents an acre
without their labor and enterprise. Ii
these people cannot he defended, il they
have no rights. and If they cannot appeal
to the Attorney-General do not think we
have any use for an Attorney General nor
| law officer OF this Government. Applause
But your rich corporations can have all the
| assistance they require. The corporations
can cume in here and have, 1T seems, all
| they desire, but common people have no
rights here, and law is made to operate
against them. Why, you gentlemen of the
Democracy go on the stump and present
| the claims OF your party as being friends
of common people, workingmen, and par
ticularly farmers; but when they come
and only ask justice you tell them to go to
the devil, that they have no rights in this
| Government"
The point of order raised against Mr..
Bowers amendment was sustained by the
| chair.