Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-03-14
(By William w. Griffin.)

jestic theatre in Reno Sunday after
noon, an audience of democrats. re-
publicans, socialists. suffragcttes and
men and women of every type and
class, Hon. George u. Bartlett. assist
ant United States district attorney
and former congressman. a. Grant Mil.
Ter. prominent lawyer and late social
list candidate for the United States
senate, Attorney l.. l.. Brown and Gov.
ernor 4. d. Boyle debated and dis.
cussed the pros and cons. why's and
wherefores, and the good and bad
points OF what is known as the Pitt.
man bill, passed by the United States
senate and now before the committee
on public lands OF the house OF rep.
resentatives Of the United States.
The bill provides for the granting
to the state of Nevada 100000 acres
OF unappropriated or unreserved non.
mineral public land in the state for
the use and benefit of the public
schools of Nevada and the university:
and that the land shall be disposed
of to citizens OF the United States by
sale to the highest bidder at public
auction at not less than s1.25 per acre
under such laws, rules and regulations
as may now or hereafter be prescribed
by the legislature OF the state of Ne
vada, not inconsistent Herewith.
no n,,,c,,
that there is general opposition to
the Pittman bill, but il is equally well
settled that much of that opposition
could be wiped away by an amend.
ment eliminating the sale by auction"
clause of the bill and adding some of
the amendments suggested by various
newspapers.
To these amendments. as to any
others, il appears. however. that the
leaders of the opposition to the bill
are not anxious to assent, preferring.
perhaps, for reasons best known to
themselves, that the bill be killed out
right.
The one other important question
upon which the proponents and oppo.
nents of the bill are divided is wheth.
er or not all things touching upon
the operation of the bill should be left
to the state Legislature or should be
included in the bill before congress.
One thing was made very plain at
the meeting by some of the speakers
and all of the audience practically,
and that is that the people of this
state do not approve of the president
of the university doing politics" or
lobbying for this or any other bill.
That they resent his actions in this
respect cannot be doubted, and was
made manifest at the meeting.
Mrs. Sadie d. Hurst. president OF
the Women Citizens club. presided
and after a few Introductory remarks
presented Mr.. Bartlett to speak for
the proponents and supporters of the
bill.
After stating that there would be
no personalities INDUCED In and after
intimatinG that he was not a candi.
date for anything" Mr. Bartlett
launched into his subject, speaking
as he said, only as n plain citizen of
the state. He said that the only sane
amendments that had been offered TO
the bill had been made today and then
read the proposed amendmtnts from
the Reno Journal which eliminated
the sale by auction and provided a
new method of purchase of land as
well as Il different disposition of the
proceeds. He accepted these amend.
ments as worth while. Reviewing the
bill he venturcd that the land involved
was not poor mans land; that he
had been informed that there was not
16O acres In the state untaken now
upon which homesteader could make
living. He commended the Journals
suggestions as to the development Of
water and building of roads. After
paying his respects to Gran, Millers
suggestions as TO the proper disposi
tion OF these lands by national enact
ment he contended that the state legis.
tHC OIp 10 enact the
laws for this purpose. acclaiming the
legislature as fine body, but indicat.
Ing that IL the people were displcaacd
with their representatives in the leg.
islature they should elect others at
the first opportunity. His talk was
very well received.
Mr.. Miller followed Mr.. Bartlett and
said he was glad that Bartlett had
had change of heart since they laQt
met.
The greater part of the public do.
main has been dissipated and in Ne.
vada twenty.seven persons control Ga
percent of the 100000 acres in pri
vate ownership" said Miller. Where
has been the demand for the bill
From the public schools? No: from
the small farmer7 No. but from the
twenty.seven persons who would get
the 100000 acres in the same pro