The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-11

"A member-How many states are
affected?
Mr.. Hartman-Seven; the states of
minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota
Montana. Idaho. Washington, and Or
tion.'"
Mr.. Tawney Of Minnesota. at present
chairman of the committee on appro-
this resolution. said 9page 62s41:
NOW, the Importance of this TO the
people OF the states through which the
road passes is one of great magnitude.
want to call the attention OF the
GRITTY is given to them, the purchasers
OF this property will take the property
at the foreclosure sale on the 10Th OF
next month absolutely free from every
selves OF its benefits and to operate
their road they will be obliged to in
corporate under state authority. What
will be the effect of this upon the titles
to the land which is now held by set
tiers all along the line OF that road
from Lake Superior to Puget Sound?
Remember that that road has enjoyed
munlf1cent land grant 40 miles IN
width in Minnesota and Wisconsin and
80 miles in width west of Minnesota
extending to Puget Sound. The great
er part of that land grant has been
sold to actual settlers. The govern
ment of the United States has since
discovered that some of these lands
have been enormously certified, and is
now seeking to cancel those certihca-
tons. Whenever in the future the IL
tie to any of that land fails, unless the
condition which we impose in this joint
resolution is made part OF the right
of the purchasers to incorporate under
federal authority, those settlers Will
have absolutely no protection and Will
have no recourse against anybody Tor
the damages which they may sustain
by reason of the failure of their title.
Mr.. Doolittle of Washington, In dis
cussing this bill said (page 6296):
This resolution does not grant to
the Northern Pacific Railroad COM
pany or the successors of that cor
poration. any additional right, powers
or property. 1t takes away power
| they have heretofore enjoyed. and 1t
| limits the price of the agricultural
| lands which are sold along the line Of
the road to much lower price than
| that at which they are now offered"
| said (page $3.50:
"Mr. Speaker, there are essentially
| three parties in interest to this ques-
| ton. First, the people Of the United
| States at large, represented by the
government; second. the creditors
| erty, or in a broader sense I might
say the owners Of the property; and
| third, the millions of people living
along the line of that road. First.
the people Of the United States are
giving nothing additional. This is
not land grant. We are giving no
| additional right. no additional lands.
| no additional property from the gov
eminent to the road. The owners OF
| the property, the creditors of the
are substantially united in asking for
| this legislation. The land grant to
| that road gave them in fee simple the
title to an empire of territory in the
district when I represent. They own
every other section Of land in strip
| 80 miles wide and. 400 miles, long
through my district. The people liv-
| ing in that state and in this strip are
substantially united in asking this
legislation. They will reap decided
advantages and benefits from the
passage Of this. resolution
Mr.. Hartman closed the debate on
| this resolution and during his re-
marks the following occurred:
| (page e2ss): - esY. =. 80
Mr. Powers:- Lee wish to inquire
whether this bill contemplates giving
| to tho new corporation any other
| rights than they would get by the
| foreclosure of their mortgage?
| Mr.. Hartman: Not one Not sin
accorded to the successors of the
corporation and nothing else except
| the franchise to be a corporation.
| The fight on the resolution was
conducted by Lemuel Quigg Of New
! York, as much representative of
wall street as could be found in the
| house. The vote on the resolution
was yeas 149, nays 55. I voted yea.
! Those voting with me were Baker Of
| Kansas, Broderick of Kansas. Burton
Missouri, Chas. Curtis, Dingley, Dol
| liver Grow, Colonel Henderson, Hep
| burn. Hopkins, Lacey Of Iowa, Moody
| (now associate justice), appointed by
| President Roosevelt, Overstreet, Sher-
man Of New. York and Van Horn Of
| Missouri
| It was a measure supported and
demanded by the representatives of
every state through which the North
| ern Pacific ran. They desired the
legislation so that the obligations and
| conditions which were imposed on
the old corporation could be re-
| imposed upon the new, and it was
distinctively in the interest of the peo-
| pie along the line of the road that
| this legislation should be had. If
voted for Wall street in this matter, so
did every representative from the
states have mentioned, together
| with the gentlemen whose names I
| have just read. Is this charge fair;
| is it sustained by tn efacts as shown
by the record, or did White and
| BristOw in making this charge, seek
to pervert the record and mislead the
people of Kansas in connection with
this legislation?
/ Reorganization of the Atlantic &
Pacific Railroad.
| This is the charge:
con page ISL, volume %. of the
Record, Long is found voting for a
land grant which took 100000
acres from the people and gave it to
the Atlantic & Pacific railroad. 1t
was not a party question; but one in
| which the interests of Wall street and
the people conf1icted and Long voted
/ for Wall street"