Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1915-02-01
LETTER
FROM SEN. P|TTMAN
UNITED STATES SENATE
Committee on Territories
January 81, 1915.
HON. L. +. CAIN.
Elko, Nevada.

Elko, Nevada
My dear Mr.. Caine:-
| am in receipt of your letter of
January 22d relative to the bill to
validate titles on the Central Paicfic
right of way. l realize the import
ance of this matter TO the people in
Nevada, who are involved. and have
done everything in my power to facili-
tate the legislation, and am now push
ing the matter as rapidly as possible
The history of the legislation since
| have been in the senate is as fol-
lows: When l arrived in the SEN
ate in February, 1913, at the request
of Senator Newlands | Immediately
went before the judiciary committee
of the senate and made an argument
in favor of Il favorable report on the
BILL. which was then in that commit
tee. The committee reported the bill
favorably and it passed the senate in
February, 1913, and went over to the
house, but, not being passed before
the expiration of the 62d congress.
it died with that congress. At the
special session of the 63d congress in
1913. Senator Newlands again intro
duced similar bill, which was again
fayorahly reported by the senate judi.
ciary committee and passed the SEN
ate. II went to the house of represen-
tatives and was referred to the COM
mittee on public lands. where it has
remained ever since August 8th. 1914.
Since that time, Senator Newlands,
Senator Walsh of Mnotana, and my
self have made every effort to induce
the house committee to report it out
favorably to the house of representa-.
tives, but have been unsuccessful.
l take pleasure in stating that you
also for two or three months while
you were in Washington did splendid
work on behalf of the passage of this
bill, and l. cannot understand why your
efforts with various members of the
committee did not thoroughly convince
them and result in a favorabl report.
On Tuesday, the 26th instant, at the
invitation of the public lands commit
tee OF the house, I appeared before
that committee and made an extended
argument in favor of the bill. long
debate ensued. and many objections
were raised by various members OF
the committee. While | do not con.
slider that any of these objections are
well-founded, and so attempted to con-
vince the committee, still IL was ap-
parent that nothing would be accomp-
lished by further debate, so l succeed.
ed in having subcommittee. com
posed of three members, appointed to
further consider the matter and re.
port tc the whole committee.
There are three principal objections
raised by tho committee of the house.
First-.That II the right OF way is
abandoned 1t goes to those who hold
title to the land prior to the grant.
ing Of the right OF way or those who
obtained title to the lani subject TO
the right of way, and that for the gov.
eminent TO confirm the title i'm anyone
else would be a cloud upon such prior
title.
Secondhand that to confirm such
conveyances made by the railroad
company would waive the right of the
government to institute proceedings to
forfeit the right of way by reason Of
attempting to utilize the right of way
for purposes not included in the grant.
Third--That the provision OF the
bill allowing the railroad company to
convey to persons who have occupied
part of the right of way is too in.
definite and might, in effect, by giving