East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-08-12
LAND SYSTEM EVILS
SHOWN IN SCOTLAND
INQUIRY COMMITTEES POINT
OIT STARTLING REVEAL
TIONS THERE.
tBy I'D I. Keen, London Cores
pondcut OF the United Press

OBS I'D T. Keen, London Cores
pondcni OF the United Press
LONDON. Aug. ll.--That scotland
cares more for its deer and grouse
thsn d does for Us men and women
and children has long been matter
Of general knowledge. But the Brit
sh public vas totally unprepared for
fhe startling revelations OF the evils
OF me land system in that part oi
the empire. which have just been
made lly the scottish land inquiry
committees.
Il was known that vast tracts OF
land that might be devoted to agri-
culture were used solely as game pre-
serves for the occasional recreation
OF the landed aristocracy and their
friends. But it was not known that
A. a result nearly half the urban pop
ulatIou OF scotland lives more than
two in a room. nor that over a fifth
of the population live more than
three in room. and under conditions
OF insanitation and immortality that
rival those prevailing in the wors;
slums OF the metropolis The effect
OF the report NAANu was RAtAaANN
by the clifford Pinchot OF England,
Ian Macpherson, NJ P, and corps OF
experts privately appointed by Lloyd
George TO make an exhaustive investi
cation into the social ana economic
conditions in the rural parts Of Great
Britain. has been to give a tremen-
dous boost 10 the land reform cam
paign OF the chancellor Of the eN-
chequer. Many OF the committees
recommendation, particularly with
reference to the breaking up Of these
huge Scottish estates by abolishing
the present entail system, their taxa
tion according TO 10 site value, it was
learned today, arc to be Incorporated
in the governments land bill which
is now in the course Of preparation.
The committee was able to show
that the landed proprietors have al
most made a mockery Of the recent
law whereby local communities may
acquire agricultural tracts for the
benefit OF small holders. Compensa-
tion far above the actual value OF the
land Invariably is claimed, and as a
result the demand for these small
holdings remains unsatisfied through
out the country. An instance is cited
where the Glasgow corporation had
10 pay $3.50, 600 for a farming section
OF about II acres. the real value OF
which, based on actual rentals, was
only sS5.000 and in addition had 10
reimburse the owner TO the extent OF
$4,000 for the ALLEGED damages TO the
smenity'' OF some 3S3 acres Of swamp
land. OF no value to anybody. Still un-
satisfied. the owner brought in a bill
OF $4,000 damages to fishings and
2shootings~ collected it.
More than one-fifth OF Scotland-oI
S,5ss.744 acres out OF total OF 1s,-
o7e,4ss--is occupied by deer forests
or is otherwise exclusively devoted Il
sport The committee does not con-
tend that the whole of this area i.
tinable. but ii IS pointed out that
more than 800. 900 acres are below
the 1009-foot level ana as such could
readily be turned to agriculture, while
probably twice as much. situated con
tiguous 10 good farming country
could be utilized for grazing. There
are some 200 OF these deer forests
ranging in extent from 100 to 10,
600 acres. nine Of them over 10000
acres in extent. the chief owners bein.
the Duke Of Richmond and Gordon
the Marquis Of Zetland. and the Tus
tees Of the Duke Of Fife.
The general rapacity Of Seottisi
landlords and their utter indifference
to the agricultural development OF th'
country have resulted En- steady de
population Of Tho rural districts an,
the consequent cr0wding Of the cit
ies and towns. not 10 mention tn
growing emigration 10 the colonies. !
striking commentary on the attitud
of the landlords Is the fact that IL
the past 30 years the number Of farm
Eaborers On Scotland has decrease
Trom l2s. 900 10 $1,000. while in tn
same period the number Of gamekeep
ers has increased from ~ 000 10 SO.
00Q Ian Macpherson believes tha
unless the government itself take
steps 20 check this progress. the en-
can only be the destruction OF all tina
won FOR Scotland the enviable plsc
sh holds IN history. and I hat IN
freoding place of the hardest an
ihriUleth branch OF the British rae
Wlu inevitably become the home q
An-housed. underfed ambiton!es-
miserable city slum dwellers
Already the percentage Of person
living lu unc-room huts in Scottis