The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-31
CURB LAND GRANT MONOPOLY
Oregon Man Presents Memorial
to Be Sent to Congress
SOUTHERN PACIFIC IS GREEDY
VAST ACREAGE IN ORE.
CON WITHOUT COMPLYING
WITH CONTRACT.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC IS GREEDY

SALEM, Ore. Jan. 31.-Calling or
congress to enact laws to curb the
land monopoly of the Southern Pacific
and compel compliance by that COM
pany with the terms of the land grants
of 1870, memorial to congress has
been introduced by Senator Multi, of
jackson. and is in the committee on
railroads of the senate.
This memorial undoubtedly will be
adopted for it comes as the result of
the demand of a large element, espe-
cially in southern Oregon who want
the lands granted to the railroad to be
opened and sold and the $3.50 limita-
ton on the selling price of the lands,
as intended by congress, enforced
against the company.
In the house, Representative Vaw-
ter of Jackson. was preparing to in
troduce a similar memorial. until Sen
ator Mulits appeared in the senate.
Mr.. Vawter is very eager on behalf
of his constituents in Jackson and in
Douglas counties, to have something
done by congress.
The memorial addressed to the pres
ident and congress is as folloys:
Your memorialist, the legislative as
sembly of the state of Oregon, most re-
specially represent:
That vast tracts of public lands
within Oregon are claimed and held by
by the Oregon & California Railroad
company, as grantee in succession, un-
der the acts of congress of the United
States of July Is, 1866, and April 10
1869.
That said tracts are withdrawn from
sale, whereby the development and ma
terial progress of the state is retard-
ed.
That said railroad company, sc
claiming said lands, has not complied
with the terms of said act of April 10
1869. as to the terms of sale and the
quantities of land to be sold.
That said conditions are claimed tC
inure only to the United States as
grantor to the predecessor in alleged
interest of said Oregon & California
Railroad company, and have not been
complied with.
Therefore, your memorialist most re-
United States be and hereby is re-
quested to enact such laws and take
such steps by resolution. or otherwise,
as may be necessary to compel said
railroad company to comply with the
conditions of said grant, and to enact
and declare some sufficient penalty for
non compliance Herewith by way of
forfeiture of the grant, or otherwise, as
in the wisdom of congress may seem
best
That the senators and representa-
tives in congress from the state of Ore
gon and all other land grant states,
NC anu tASy AACACUy oiS ASdoNoe~u ~
use their utmost endeavor to procure
the needed legislation in the above
matter.
That this memorial be forwarded to
the president and to all the senators
and representatives in congress.
The sentiment of the legislature is
that the remedy lies in the hands of
congress and that the only recourse
open to the state is perhaps to levy a
specific tax on the lands, after two
amendments to the constitution of the
state, proposed by the late tax commits
sion, for allowing taxation by class
of subjects, shall have ben adopted.
In the opinion of Attorney General
Crawford, the $3.50 limit on the price
Of the lands can be enforced as valid
restriction On the power of sale, but
an enactment by congress, conveying
to interested individuals the right to
bring action to enforce the $3.50 pro-
vision, seems a necessary preliminary
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
anticipated. Svegeborg secured
transfer from Oklahoma to Fort Sherl-
dan and left for Chicago. Nanette
Do;c1, 60, such che cfi11 remains in