Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-03-17
NO. SS

ceiYed large grants of land from the Federal Government more than forty years ago, though her attorney. appeared and interyened and insist ed that there was two hundred and seventy-three thousand acres of swamp land that had been granted in 1850 to the State of Arkansas and few years after also granted to the Cairo and Fulton Railroad, and that she wanted in this settle ment her title to the two hundred and seventy-three thousand acres of land quieted. This claim on the part of the Iron Mountain Railroad was resented by many members of the Legislature and the Governor included resented this as an unwar- iii tst le ie and fetdiesoifie Ii sef- tsef-fei ence on the part of the corporation in the settlement between Arkansas and the Federal Government, and the settlement was strongly opposed by some on the grounds that it was humiliating to the State to accept the terms coupled with the condi- tions of the Iron Mountain Railroad. Both houses agreed to accept the settlement even with the conditions imposed by the Iron Mountain Rail- road and passed resolution to tha effect and sent it to the Governor for his approval; the Governor dis agreed aud vetoed the resolution in a long, able and thoroughly con sidered veto message; the resolution was returned to tho Legislature with the objections of the Governor. So the question came up again for discussion in both houses. Belng q joint resolution, to pass it.over the Governors veto 1t did not require q two-thirds vote but only a majority of the members elected to both houses. The Senate passed it by large majority over the veto but ill the house the contest was much closer and more animated, but it finally passed over the veto.
 This question involved the propo sition whether Arkansas would ac- cept and ratify this settlemen and thereby redeem her credit which has been under Q constant cloud and menace for more than fifty years in the commercial world, or continue on as she has been noted for making no effort to pay her honest obligations. Those of us who took the ground and insisted on the settlement claim ed that Arkansas would be far more benefited as whole by paying this old debt and establishing her credit in the commercial world than she would by the ownership of two hundred and seventy three thousand acres of swamp land (even if she could recover it from the railroad). As matter of fact, the Iron Noun tain has been paying taxes to the State on these lands for more than twenty years, and holds patent from the Government for them, and If the State of Arkansas were to raaoxyor 4hooo lan1c at oil if would beby litigation, and if the State recovered the lands after such a litigation common honesty would require the State to refund to the Iron Mountain Railroad all the taxes and interest thereon which she has paid These taxes refunded, the expenses of the litigation paid, the cost and expenses of reselling lands would amount to more than the State would ever realize from the sale of the lands. So as busi- ness proposition the State would not gain anything by her conten tions with the Iron Mountain Rail- road for the ownership of the lands. If the Legislature had done noth- ing else the passage of this joint resolution even over the veto of the Governor is a triumph of every man who loves and should be proud of Arkansas.
 might here pass some comment upon the motives of the men who opposed this settlement, but I do not sec proper to do so. will accord them honest motives, but challenge their judgment
 W. ?. GRACE,