Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-09-21
SEEKS SALE OF LANDS
GRANT CONFERENCE PASSES
TWO SETS OF RESOLUTIONS
Idea of Members of Polk County Del
sgation Expressed in Document
Presented to Meeting.

After adopting resolutions calling
upon congress to enforce the terms OF
the original grant-that is, to enforce
the sale of land to actual settlers at
$3.50 an acre, regardless of its real
value-the Oregon land-grant confer
ence closed its sessions at Salem late
Friday by adopting another resolu-
tion providing for committee con-
sisting of the governor, secretary OF
state, state treasurer, the chairman
of the conference and three members
to be appointed by the chair, to con-
fer with officials of the Southern Pa
cifc in an effort to secure their CO.
operation in the opening and early
settlement of the property.
The two resolutions were supported
respectively by conflicting elements in
the conference, but both were carried
by decisive majorities, as neither one
seems to conflict with the other. The
resolution calling upon congress for
action regarding the enforcement of
the original terms also carries with
it forceful expression of opposition
to further increases in the forest re-
serves of the state. This measure was
adopted by the conference precisely
as it came from the resolutions com
mittee. 1t was supported by an ac-
tive majority of the committee and by
those delegates who have been frank
and free in voicing their disapproval
of the railroad.
Resolutions Adopted.
Following are the resolutions adopt
ed:
Whereas, the people of The state of
Oregon by their representatives duly
assembled at Salem, Oregon, Septem-
ber 16 and II, 1915, have l'een
brought together by a common .nspir-
alton to consider the material well
fare of Oregon made imperative by
the rendition of the opinion of the
supreme court Of the United States
in the case of the Oregon-C California
railroad company ct al VS.. the United
States, popularity known as the land
grant case, and
Whereas, in said case the supreme
court has construed the acts of con-
gTess of the United States, approved
July 25, 1866, as amended by the act
approved June 25, 1868, and April 10,
1869, and the act of May 4, 1870, to
be not only laws but enforceable and
continuing covenants, and
Whereas, said acts contain condi-
tions for the sale of the lands granted
Hereunder, requiring the said lands
to be sold to actual settlers in guam
titles not greater than 100 acres and
for sums not exceeding $3.50 per
acre, and.
Whereas, the said conditions plain
ly imply an obligation upon the gran
tees in said grant to sell said lands
to actual settlers who comply with
the conditions of said grant, and
bring themselves within the condi-
tions of said grant as actual settlers,
and
Whereas, it is apparent that the
grantees in said grant by the accept
ance of said grant plainly agreed to
convey the said lands according to
the terms of said grant to such set
tiers upon the payment of the amount
specified in said grant, and to make
such conveyance upon the full per-
formance of the terms of said grant
by said actual settlers, and
Whereas, the supreme court in iti
opinion of June Is, 1915, held that
congress should have a reasonable op-
portunity to provide by legislation for
the disposition of said lands in ac-
cordance with such policy as it might
deem fitting under the circumstances
and at the same time to secure the
defendants, at all times keeping in
view the policy which will insure ac-
tual settlement of the lands rather
than speculation, and
Whereas, the United States govern.
ment has heretofore created national
forests within the state of Oregon,
occupying approximately one-third of
the area of the state of Oregon, and
thereby initiating greatly against the
growth and development of the state
of Oregon; therefore, be it
Resolved, that it is the sense of this
conference that the congress of the
United States should enact laws de-
fining and settling who shall be con-
sidered an actual settlement, and re-
quiring the grantees under said act
to perform the terms and conditions
of said act, and sell and dispose of
said lands according to the true in
tent and purpose of said acts to such
actual settlers, and, be it further
Resolved, that we are unalterably
opposed to any further increase of
forest reserves in the state of Oregon;
and lastly, be it
Resolved, that we urge upon con-
gress the enactment of legislation
which shall provide for the immediate
sale of said grant lands in areas Of
not greater than 160 acres to any one
person and to actual settlers at a
price not in excess of $3.50 per acre.
and to provide against all fraud in
the settlement and disposition Of said
lands.
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