The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-12

country wheresoever public lands are
located. Its purposes seems TO be TO lease
the public lands in large tracts 10 large
stock owners for a given rate or rental
and for terms of years
For the benefit of persons who have
become so profoundly stirred by TINS
proposition before the senate, II is but
fair 70 say that il is improbable that
congress will at this late date consent
20 begin the leasing of public LANDS IN
large areas to corporations and large
stock owners. thus retarding legitimate
settlement of the public domain ana
giving that domain for trifing rental TO
a few individuals who may desire 10
monopolise it,
I do not think that any apprehen-
sion need be felt in any quarter WITH
reference to thee possibility of passing
such a bill through the senate or
through either branch of congress. The
public domain of the United States has
been held in trust by the government
for the people of the country, and the
actual settlers have always been pre-
ferred
Policy OF Government.
1T has been the policy of the gov
eminent TO establish homes TO build up
communities, to establish states, and TO
bring out well-Ordered society where
wasted places exist To turn what re-
mains Of the public domain into cattle
ranches under barbed-wire fences, with
a monopoly of land and water in the
hands of few individuals in the re-
spectiVe states. is not seriously enter
tanned as a proposition anywhere.
/ do not anticipate that any commit
tee of this body cOntemplates reporting
favorably on such a measure. This
much / say to the end that well-mean-
ing persons who desire to settle upon
the public domain may have their ap-
prehensiOns quoted with reference to
any possibility of legislation on the part
or congress on the lines of the bill re-
terred 10. l also give notice that before
that Dill is acted upon in committee il
is the desire of senators from the pub
lie land states to be heard do not be-
lieve that any hearing will be neces-
sary. The stating of the proposition it,
self which is an innovation upon the
well-settled policy of the government
established and carried out for a CEN
fury, IS sufficient TO cause the bill to
IND eternal sleep either in indefinite
postpOnement or in the files of the com
mittee'
Senator Teller said: Il have had
great many communications from nv
constituents on this subject. To an of
them | have replied that there was no
possibility Of sgch a bill being enacted:
that it had not been the policy of the
government, and l did not believe the
pollcy was 10 be changed. So far as [
am concerned, / am quite willing to
JON the senator from Montana in the
effort to prevent the passage of such
a bill. L should regard it a very serious
change of the policy of the government
concerning public lands"
Stewart Lends a Hand.
Senator Stewart also took I'D the
cudgel against the bill saying: Il hope
the bill will be indefinitely postponed
early, so as TO settle all questions re-
gdrdlng it L hope whoever has charge
OF 1t will report it back and have it
indefinitely postponed. because I have
already received two or three letters Of
apprehension in regard to it."
Inc only member of congress from
the Rocky mountain states to cast his
vote for the Porto Rican tariff was
representative MOndelI of Wyoming.
The others were all present and voted
against 1t. Representative Campbell
OF Montana secured an adjournment of
the senate committee. which was in
HeSllgatlng the Clark case, in order
that he might be able to record his
vote
Delegate Perea of New Mexico has
not disguised his belief that the meas
ure was bad one. An interesting dia-
lOSue occurred between Delegate Perea
and the Hon. Harvey B. Ferguson. who
was his predecessor in congress from
the territory, in the house restaurant.
How about this Porto Rican bust
ness?" inquired FERGUSON.
m against it, replied Perea Il
never wanted a vote as badly as on
that bill"
Glad to hear you say that" re-
marked Ferguson, for if this kind of
treatment can be given territories. the
next thing that will be done to us will
De to put tax on New Mexico wool
where IT crosses the Colorado line
About Utah Men.
The Washington Post has the follow
ing interesting Utah gossip in its Cap
itol Chat column: One of the most
interested listeners in the senate. while
the quay case was being argued, was
Governor Heber NJ Wells of Utah. If
quay IS seated, as now seems certain.
GoEernor Wells will appoint a senator
from Utah to fill the vacancy occa-
stoned by the failure of the legislature
to elect. The appointee will be a Re
publican, but he will not be a polvga-
mist Governor Wells said yesterday
that never again would Utah attempt
to seat polygamist in either branch of
congress. Governor Wells is the son
of pOlygamist parents. but is not a no
lygamist himself. The governor was
introduced to the senators by Senator
Rawllns, who enjoys, by the way. the
distinction of being the first delegate
elected to the next Democratic nation
al convention. He has been chosen as
the delegate-at-large to head his dele
cation to Kansas City. He has an
other distinction in that he is the only
man IN congress from Utah. In the
mouse, as every one knows. Efr. Rob
erts was unseated, and there is a va
cancy in the senate Like the gentle
men in Gilbert's ballad. Mr.. Rawlins
is the midshipmita and the hns., IT,