The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-04-05
GlBS0N'S REPLY
TO HANSBROUGH
Debate on the Bill TO Repeal
the Deser. Land Act.
ALLEGED RAILROAD LOBBY
Mr.. sPooNER TAKES A POKE AT
BRISToW.


tine morning business. Mr.. Gibson
took the floor TO speak on his bill 10
repeal the desert land act and the COM
mutation provision of the homestead
act. He denied that a railroad lobby
IS back of the proposition for the re-
peal Of general land laws, and refuted
the statement that the motive of the
men favoring the repeal is to increase
the value of private holdings. Mr.. Glib
son read from Hansbrough's speech 10
the effect that a lobby was back OF the
deal and criticised Mr. Hansbrough
for not naming at least one of the rail-
roads or persons he alleges to be back
of re movement for the repeal Of the
laIId laws.
Mr.. Hansbrough asked Mr.. Gibson if
he did not know that George H. Max
well is receiving a princely salary from
several land grant railroads. whose
principal business has been to advo-
cate the repeal of the land law and de-
nounce al those who do not agree with
him. Mr.. Gibson answered that the
National Irrigation association is in
terested in the repeal Of the laws. He
said he is willing to admit that Mr..
Maxwell is the "main push
A DOGGY Man.
Mr.. Quarles said he had heard
great deal about a lobby for the re-
peal Of the land laws. and wanted to
know why il was that this lobby had
manifested itself TO the opposition only
He suggested that the lobby looked
like a DOGGY man which land grabbers
are trying to raise here and that these
land grabbers are trying to people the
air with ghosts and hobgOblins.
Mr.. HansbrOugh protested against
the term land grabbers' being applied
to the opponents to the bill. and re-
ferred to letters which had been adj
dressed 10 himself to show that a Wig
orous effort was being made for the
repeal OF the land laws.
Mr.. Quarles submitted that such an
effort as had been described would be
'idiOtic."
Mr.. Gibson spoke Of J. J. Hill and
his railroad building and the fact that
this had not been a scrip railroad.
As Mr.. Gibson started to read from
a speech by Mr.. Hill. Mr.. Hansbrough
Interrupted TO say that an unfriendly
issue cannot be raised between him
and AR Hill, as they are friends.
though not agreeing on the question OF
land laws. He said they did agree,
however. on the question of irrigation.
Mr.. Gibson paid a tribute 10 Mr.. Hill
and his work in developing western
states.
Mr.. Warren said il was wrong, how
ever. to refer to Mr.. Hill as not inter-
ested in land grant railroads. as he is
the president Of the Northern Securi-
ties company. which owns both the
Great Northern and the Northern Pa
cific railroads.
Postofice Bill
Consideration of the postoffce an
preparation bill was then resumed. An
amendment was then offered by Mr..
Lodge To the paragraphs providing for
the lease of the New York central site
in New York for a postofice building.
The amendment limits the lease to ten
years. with privileges Of an increase of
twenty-five years at an annual rental
OF not more than 2is per cent of the
appraised value OF the space actually
occupied by the postoffice building. or
the total cost Of the building. not ex-
ceeding $50, CO.,
Mr.. Teller thought it better to pur-
chase the property if the government
wants il. He called attention to the
house provision for the leasing of the
Pennsylvania railroad site for post
office purposes I'm New York City. and
the fact that in that case the senate
committee had changed the provision
10 purchase the site instead of the lease
provided for by the house. He made
a point against the rental of the New
York Central site on the ground that
it is general legislation. The chair
Overruled the point.
The amendment offered by Mr. Lodge
was adopted.
The senate amendment providing for
the purchase of the Pennsylvania prop
erty for a postoffice at S2OOO,O0O was
agreed TO-
Senate Amendments.
When the senate amendments trans
ferrins the free city delivery service
from the fourth 70 the first assistant
postmaster general was reached, Mr..
SpOoner demanded the reason for and
the effect Of the change He insisted
that the legal effect would be to take
away some OF the elasticity of the re-
Nised statutes insofar as il authorizes
I the postmaster general TO order the
! inspectors 10 report to himself or tc
any other department he thinks advisa-
bic. An amendment was adopted to
/ protect the postmaster general in the
authority he now possesses.
The telephone amendment was called
up.
The house had provided that no part
Of the appropriation for incidental
I items in first-and secOnd-class post
/ Offices SHOULD be used for telephone
| service in any postofice where the post
master was required by order of the
/ postmaster general to use no other de-
! vice than that of the Bell. Telephone
/ company. This provision was struck
I out bv the senate committee. Mr.
! Clapp moved that the appropriation be
! restored to the bill and amended so
Z that an exception shall be made where
an opportunity Is offered all companies
/ 20 bid for the service and the contract
/ is let 10 the lowest bidder for the oest
| service. The amendment was agreed
/ 20.
Slap at Bristow.
The transfer Of the free delivery serv-
/ ice was again brought up. Mr.. Spooner
said he was not sure that the time had
arrived for the transfer Of the free de-
/ livery service back TO the first assistant
! postmaster general and said il looked
/ like a slap at the man who had been
responsible for the transfer.
Mr.. Teller wanted TO know whether
Mr.. SpoOner meant that 1t was a slap
at the postmaster general.
Il do not" answered Mr.. SpOoner.
ITO the fourth assistant postmaster
general. then" pursued Mr.. Teller.
Il am not under accumulation
said Mr.. Spooner. but 1 do not mind
saying that i mean the fourth assist
ant"
Mr. Lodge said the transfer was not
meant as slap at Mr. Bristow or Mr..
Payne but that he thought it proper
To return the department where Il orig