The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-25

Neither have doubt bat that the same
: s-us "a TIE osasr states saTonxa - ~.
era, snaa.eE a1.ss u Al 70 ys1 go 80 q
TIA ec1pa1y under this Aws
The Right 10 select
'eSsr II this al. Uns.sr the pvgv:siors q
this law the company has ) rfg1t 20 Sc sees
lands IN azy state through watcA TIE l3aa
Easses- Il Is not limited 20 presented
dis-a-ce from the constructed Ans. but So
lection can be made ~ any iz-is ii any
state through which the Eosc passss
Agn 81 the opinion sasf The aggregate less
IS In al tae states through wnicn the
road passes car be made Up n any one
state through which the road passes. pro-
yssie5 sAere IS sufficient quantity IN any
one state. Sor 3 i confined 10 surveyed
% 90 into the unsurvsyes lands q this
state ard seiect Ia leu % al such lands
"a 1t may see fit 20 reifn1aSa- as IN such
cases as have cited. making al os rs
selections In the state OF Wa<1sr ztou.
" here will then re the heritage OF the
people OK this state2 Or the homes for The
the right 10 go into the timber lands and
make selection OF such, regardless OF sur
yeys. IL can select al the valuable TIM
Der lands q tbs sac; can ssie.s n me
extent ard value IS a.Eracting the aSsen-
ton Of the Ysrze Numbering Interests OF
the East. lands the value Of which would
be almost inessimabie. The fact that IN
surveyed lands are occupied by settlers can
not be shown on the records OF the local
sand Offices. The selections az the company
would become a matter OF record When.
finally. the land is surveyed and subject
10 entry and the settler appears before
The land Office, he viii be confronted by
the selections OF the company and his Ill
ing rejected. Then there will be repetition
ot the whole lieu land controversy. This
law. instead OF settlng this vexed cues
ston simply transfers the controversy 10
other times and places
what the Settler Gets.
an return for all these benefits 10 the
company what mostly 6oez the lieu land
settler receiver Congress has no right 20
pass any law which would compel the
10 which they have a legal right. This
would Be inpairing the Obligation of
contract
ton of the question OF the law confirming
title 10 the Northern Pacific Railway Conn
rany OF the grant 20 the Northern Pacific
was made. I have no prejudice against
the company. I have not made an exact
calculation OF the fun financial benefit 70
the compaay BY reason Of This lieu land
tour own through which Il passes. and
say that il means gift OF a million acres
Of land 70 the company. II such a grant
ue Il at several million dollars.
~ am glad the legislature OF the state
Of Washington memor}alized congress for
lis EStfS<I- lou HtEI nave ao lear "a
ing Condemned by the people OF this coun-
try for voting far this memorial.
while ana addressing this letter TO you
I mean IL for all There is not a state
rnent herein made that DO not believe 10
be literally .~'se. To one who has kept a
close watch of this subject and who knows
the ms and outs Of the lieu land cortro-
versy no amount o. soph,stry put into any
political speech or publication can conceal
the true inwardness OF such legislation as
this nor wonder at tho interest OF the
Northern Pacific Railway Company In the
massage Of this lieu land law, commonly
known as the Wilson bill"