The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-16
NEW SUGGESTIONS.

Interior on Thursday Mr.. Huntington
made strong plea for the issuance OF
patents for those granted railroad lands
which are occupied by settlers under con-
tracts with the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company to buy when the patents shall
be issued. The two main grounds upon
which he based his plea are, first, that the
amounts which the company thus would
be in position to receive from the settlers
would be an important element in the set
tlement of the Governments claim against
the company, and second, that the lands
would thus become taxable and the revenue
of the State increased thereby. All this
has reference TO Secretary Smith s declared
intention to order that no patents for
granted lands shall issue until the railroad
debt to the Government is adjusted.
This introduces new and unexpected
element into the controversy between the
Government and the railroad. Formerly
the issuance of patents was denied on the
ground that the company had not COM
pleted its lines within the time specified in
the grant. No sooner had this question
been settled by the courts generally in
favor of the railroad) than this new ques-
ton of the original subsidy is raised. The
result is that settlers who have contracted
to buy the lands, and who in thousands of
instances have established homes upon
them, are prevented, principally by the
Government itself, from enjoying the Sc
curity, comfort and other benefits of a
home founded upon sufficient title. This
is really the most serious phase of the
whole case, and yet it is one that has re-
ceived the least attention.
Mr.. Caminetti's laboring with the Secre-
tary has been chiefly in the interest of
miners, his contention being that before
patents are issued the granted lands should
be carefully inspected, so as to ascertain
and exclude mineral lands. This is well
enough, but it is only part of the matter
and to make all the other interests involved
in the subject wait upon the solution of
that branch of it is unjust and unstates-
manlike. The four kinds of lands involved
are mineral, timber, grazing and agricul-
tural. The two first have hardly more
than a transient value, however great that
may be; and as for the third, it does not,
in the absence of cultivation to produce
forage, contain an element of home-buiId-
ing. 1t is an important fact that the tim
Der, mineral and grazing lands are remote
from the agricultural regions, and gener-
ally unfit for cultivation. Our argument
is that the man who makes home and
feels secure in its possession is a strong,
essential and peculiar factor in the stability
OF people and its Government. Why not
issue patents for those agricultural lands
on which settlers have made their homes
and lived for many years, and thus give
them the right to enjoy security, freedom
and the rewards Of their labor?
Mr.. Huntington appears somewhat dis
ingenious when he says that if the Gov
eminent should issue patents to him he
could then give deeds to these homes, re-
ceive the money for them and pay this
money to the Government on account of
the railroads debt. Would it not have
been fairer for him to suggest that he
would relinquish his claim to these lands,
step entirely out of the matter, let the
Government issue patents directly to the
settlers, and let the settlers themselves pay
the money into the Federal treasury, where
it may be either placed to the credit of the
railroads account or held until the rail-
roads debt is adjusted? This would be
cutting across lots and avoiding numerous
legal circumlocutions and dangers without
in any wise affecting the equities existing
between the Government and the railroad
Possibly Mr.. Huntington is influenced by
the consideration that these settlers have
paid one-ffth Of the purchase price and
are paying annually an interest OF seven
per cent on the remainder, while he can
borrow money at six per cent. Perhaps
this consideration has caused him to refuse
to issue quitclaim deeds to the many set
tiers who were willing to accept them and
take their chances with the Government on
the score of patent, and thus be relieved
of paying the interest and in addition
acquire titles which will give their homes
permanency and market value
1t is hoped that these suggestions, which
we believe put new phase on the subject,
will receive serious attention from those
who have stronger desire to protect indi-
vidual rights and foster the prosperity of
the State than to IVORY the railroad"