Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-09-16

The Oregon California Land Grant
conference which was called to order
at II O'Clock in the Hall of Represen-
tatives by w. I. Vawter, of Medford,
rolled smoothly on tnrougout the day s
session as If the wheels were well lu'
bricated and with the keynote Of the
convention, as expressed by Governor
Withycombe in his opening remarks,
that the land should be opened to set
tiers, all appeared to he heartily IN ac-
cord. From the undercurrent OF sentl-
ment which pervaded the floor OF the
house it seems that all desire that the
lands now included In the grant to the
railroad be placed on the market IN
some way that moro people may be pro-
vided with homes in this state. How
they are to acquire these lands is the
problem, and which problem will doubt
less remain unsolved regardless OF any
resolutions adopted by this mass meet
ing of citizens.
This is conference Of about 200 ac-
credited representatives from various
organizations and the separate coun-
ties of the state. They are attempting
to hit upon some plan to open up tnese
lands to settlement. TO begin with, the
only right Of the state OF Oregon IN
these lands, from the terms OF the
grant as outlined by the decision Of the
| u, 5. supreme court, is the right OF
free speech ana the only title and in
terest is the interest ID the delegates
as citizens. Their resolutions If acted
upon by congress IN any way, It Is Tree
! lv predicted, will result in congress
eompromising in throwing the entire
BODY of lands into forest reserve. II
congress refuses to act 1T is probable
! that the railroad company Will be lore
ed to dispose of these lands under tht
terms of the grant. No more than loI
acres to any one person, only to actua
settlers and at Il price Of not TO exceed
$3.50 an acre.
The decision Of the U. $. supreme
court, as hastily reviewed by Attorney
General Brown in his address on 'Th'
Legal Aspect Of the situation statei
that congress had in mind the ultimate
settlement Of these lands by actual resi-
deuts when the grants were first mad'
by congress to the railroad. The su
preme court also held that the term
Of the grant were also laws. TIT
terms al the grant, and consequently
the law in the ease, IS that the lai'
snail be disposed Of only to actual set
tiers at II price of not more than S2.o'
an acre and in lots of not more thai
l50 acres to any one person. If con
press refuses to take any action IN I'M
matter and the terms of tue decision
Of the y. $. supreme court are adhere'
TO the railroad company will be t0rce'
either 10 dispose OF the lands nnde
the terms as outlined or 70 pay taxes "
their actual value If they are held b.
the railroad as mortgageable security
The order of business MS outlined b.
the committee on procedure was strict
" adhered to aud the committee o.
credentials which was appointed b.
Chairman Vawter retired to make tnei
report. This committee consisted Of !
NJ. wilkins, OF Lane, chairman; Is. {
Leedy, Of Benton; Theo Meyers, o
Coos; Il. n. Blnnchered, Of Josephine
X. s. Farrell, Of Multnumah; II. u. Kit
die. of Union; j. n. Brown, Of Gillian
l.. A. Long, Of Washington; and g. !
5trnin, Of Umatilla. This committee 0
credentials admitted all Of the list q
accredited representatives and in add
ton every other list Of delegates tina
applied for seats on the floor No cor
'. tests were made and the harmony Of III
conference received It's first boost. I'd
p list Of additions In full follows;
j. u. Brown Gillian county pres
dent Farmers union; II. l.. Gilke
.IosephiGe, in place Of II. d. Morton
Peter Loggie, Coos county, IN place
l.. y. Smith; G. @. Gillette, Josephii
. county; W. y. Runyan, Clackamos con
y Nv. representing Actual Settlers ass
citation: W. T. Ball. Toledo, represen
ing Lincoln county, NJ. NJ. Davis, Ne'
. port. representing Lincoln county; l..
= smith, Newpat, representing Linco
:. county; o. V. Hurt, Waldport, repr
y setting Lincoln county j. l.. Rickma
y Newport, representing Lincoln count
~. II. Coils, Columbia county Carlt