, 1904-04-04
THE LAND LAWS
ARE BEN|F|CENT
DEFENDED BY SENATOR WARREN
AGAINST ATTACK BY GIe-
SON OF MONTANA.
Sc From Wyoming Takes Posi-
ton in Opposition to Wholesale
Repeal OF Lane Laws, C%ontendina
That Movement for Repeal 10 Due
to Large Holders.

dslllslpu, April 4.-MT. warren
occupied the greater part of the sem
ate's time Saturday with a speech at
lacking the Gibson bill. He contend
ed that the land laws were benefcent
and in the main honestly administered,
and urged that there was no demand
for repeal.
\ conspicuous feature in the senate
chamber was a large easel bearing
upon it n series Of pictures showing
tn, effect Of irrigation and the Wyo-
ming tract of irrigated land. which had
been the subject of controversy in
connection with the debate upon Mr..
Gibson's bill for the repeal of the land
laws. The easel was placed in the
chamber at the request of Mr.. Warren.
who had given notice of his intention
to address the nat on the bill.
Mr.. Warren did not, however, find
opportunity to speak at the beginning
OF the days session, Mr.. Mallory con-
tinuing his speech on the Carmack
resolution looking to an inquiry into
the legality of the old age pension or
der of Secretary Hitchcock. When
Mallory concluded a bill establishing
a fish hatchery in Utah was pressed.
The land law repeal bill was Then
taken up and Mr.. Warren proceeded
with his speech. He took a position
in opposition to the wholesale repeal
of the lane laws, and said that the de-
mand for a change already had been
met by the senate in its action upon
the timber and stone act. He also call
ed attention to the fact that the
president had endorsed the recommen-
dations Of the Richards committee,
which were In the interest of modif.
cation, but not of the repeal of the law.
Mr.. Warren expressed the opinion that
We are in no danger from the absorb.
ton of the public domain.
What Is the public domain for?''
he asked. IF not to be absorbed?"
He added that he would be pleased
to have 1t taken twice as rapidly. pro
vided it be taken by settlers. He said
that nor than one-third of the total
area Of the United States. including
Alaska, Is still public. and concluded
that the government should offer lib
eral encouragement to settlement.
With a vast area of 1000, OOO, 900 or
more acres awaiting settlement. Mr..
Warren said there was no need to
have hysteria. Mr.. Gibson asked how
much of this area was inhabitable with
Or without irrigation INT Mr.. Warren
quoted from the speech of Mr.. Gibson
to show that there were about 50,000,-
600 acres of the arid regions fit for
irrigation.
Mr.. Warren said that in twenty-five
years about 5000, 900 acres had been
disposed by h~omesteading and at this
rate 1t would take 500 years to dis
pose of what was left. He said he
could not agree with all Mr.. Gibson
had said on the subject, and he read
from the government statistics to show
the public domain and the classes of
land into which it was divided.
Mr.. Patterson asked. how the cattle
men of Wyoming obtained their titles
Of SO. 1000 and 60, 900 acres of land. Mr..
Warren said the greater part of it was
oougnt from railroad companies to
whom the land was given by the Unit
ed States government as a bonus for
railroad building. He declared that
the cattle would be better of to have
the land laws repealed so that they
could roam over the entire lands of
the states.
Mr.. Gibson said he knew cattlemen
and h a in his state there was not
one who wanted the land laws repeal
ed, and that therefore his bitterest en-
emies were the cattlemen. He denied
emphatically the correctness of Mr..
statement SO far as Montana
was concerned.
Il I'M inclined to let the senator
speak for his own state" said Mr.. War
rem. When he made bis speech the