New-York tribune., 1899-07-13
A POPULIST LAND TRUST.
EX-SENATOR ALLEN GETS A "ClNCH
on THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF The RESERVOIR
ACT. RUSHED THROUGH CONGRESS IN
THE LAST DAYS OF THE SESSION.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNE.l

Washington. July lex senator "'''oiii
Vincent Allen, OF Nebraska, Populist statesman
and long distance orator. has been and stl is
entering quarter sections Of land under law
rushed through Congress in the late days OF the
session His activity in this direction is. in fact,
fast becoming issue in Nebraska Where ne
now is a Judge Of one Of the district courts.
having been appointed to seat on the pench
by the Po2ulist Governor. This monopoly OF
the public domain under an apparently lnno-
cent and proper law has led to close scrutiny IN
the sections Of the country most concerned, re-
sulting in a protesting clamor whose noise mas
finally penetrated the corridors Of that routine
and red tape bound bureau known as the Cen
eral Land Office.
How Senator Allen and those associated with
him happened to secure such monopoly OF the
public domain such "cinch" on Government
land. is an interesting story, and It's recitai
briefly ought to be instructive in throwing
side light on the ease with which questionaOie
legislation is often put through Congress. MT
Allen and others have simply taken advantage
Of the law as II stands. and II he is shrewd
enough to see through the legal verbiage ot'an
act and grasp its possibilities long before
others less skilled in legal lore can. 1t ought
possibly. to be ascribed TO superior knowledge
and insight, and not to a conspiracy TO plunder
the public domain.
ENGINEERED BY Mr. PETTTGREW.
The law giving these men the right to ENTER
the pubic domain and divert IL - their own
use and benefit is known as the Reservoir
act" II was passed ostensibly for the protec-
tion OF cattle ranchmen who have gone 70 the
trouble and expense OF digging reservoirs to
furnish water for their cattle. The bill was
framed by Mr.. Pettgrew. the Popust Senator
from South Dakota. who has always been the
self heralded friend Of the farmer the protec-
tor OF the workingman and the arch enemy or
trusts. AS chairman Of the committee. he en-
gneered the measure through the Senate Un-
der it's provisions any person is authorized TO
enter upon arid or semi-arid lands and con-
struct reservoirs. and for each reservoir con-
structed there is given to him the absolute con-
troll OF 160 acres Of land. the quarter section
on which the reservoir Is constructed, provided
only that the use Of the reservoir Is permitted
10 the general public for stock watering pur-
poses.
II is Interesting to note that in his bill which
Mr.. Pettigrew explained so clearly to the Senate
there is no requirement as to the capacity OF
these reservoirs. A good sized old fashioned
watering trough would probably answer all the
requirements Of the law. Another element OF
weakness in the law is that the reservoirs pro-
vded for do not have to be completed until TWO
years after the enactment Of the law. Mean
while there are two good seasons during which
the land can be utilized and controlled by The
mere act ne hling formal entry. ~ The end d
two years. II the person who entered II sees fit
he can reIinquish II withou, constructing reser-
voir and without the expenditure OF dollar, al
though ne has enjoyed the usufruct for two
years.
ABOUT TEN THOUSAND ACRES SECURED
This remarkable law went into effect without
attracting any public attention. 1t was only be-
cause the Broken Bow (Neb) Land Office off,
cials noticed that ex-senator Allen was "enter-
ing" two or three quarter sections day in that
district that comment was aroused II is re-
ported from that Office that Mr.. Allen has en-
tered and now controls about ten thousand acres
for his own benefit. Instead OF buying cattle
and going 10 some convenient spot for his ranch
digging a reservoir for his own and the public
good. Mr.. Allen has simply entered the land and
will control 1t II some other enterprsine cattle
raiser wishes 20 Craze cattle thereon. Under this
loosely worded ard poorly constructed piece OF
Federal legislation a single person can enter
whole township or a whole county or several
counties OF Government quarter sections. and
control all this territory for TWO years before
making n reservoir on each quarter section. No
body can Craze cattle on these tracts without the
consent Of those who entered them. and. not be-
ing able to Craze their cattle, the reservoirs
would be useless TO them even II built.
At the present rate Of entering and locating
reservoirs It will he only a short time before
Mr. Allen and his associates will control the
entire public domain at least all that is worth
anything for pasturage. and will be in good
position 10 farm out the public domain 70 such
cattlemen as may have desire to pasture their
stock on Government lands. Whether the act
will give any one a vested right OF permanent
value is prOblematcal. but the steadiness with
which that distinguished farmer lawgver'
1urist and statesman William Vincent Allen. is
reported to be gathering 10 himself much OF the
Government land in the Broken Bow District
has surprised and 10 a great extent alarmed
the natives OF Nebraska and the other semi
arid sections Of the West The proceeding opens
UP a question Of great interest in those locali-
ties. and the way in which protests have begun
10 come in indicates that the people at large
finally have had their eyes opened to what has
been going on.
ALLEN LOST NO TINE.
Mr. Allen began 10 file his claims and ENTER
the choicest sections Immediately after he went
home from Washington on the expiration OF
his Senatorial term in March last. He has been
en1ulated. and his proceeding indorsed py
former oil Inspector. Mr.. Edminston, OF Ne
braska a prominent Populist OF the state ana
by Mr. Schwind. Of Nebraska, the law partner
OF William Jennings Bryan, late candidate TOT
the Presidency both Of whom have gatheIeu
unto themselves large parcels of land "ei
worthy Of gathering.
When the subject Of reservoirs on ara Iduua
was up for consideration in the Senate Sehdtoi
Warren, Of Wyoming, contended for a propoSI.
ton that had merit 10 commend II, but ne NJ
with ignominious failure. Senator warren vas Mas
sunnorted by the National Irrigation Congress
and the National Live Stock Association lnes
.i..- Lii h arld landa Nacant Ann uIl-