Congressional Record-Senate. 4033
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1904. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 4033 Mr. CLARK of Wyoming. Mr. President-- a short time on the resolution of the Senator from Tennessee, but Ml·. PATTERSON. But they go to make up large landed estates. I realize that at 2 o'clock the post-office appropriation bill has a Mr. CLARK of Wyoming. I did not yield to the Senator for a right to come up, and I will simply give notice now that to-morrow speech. after the routine business-- The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The ....Senator from Wyoming Mr. ALDRICH. I have no disposition to cut off the Senator's declines to yield. speech. I did not intend to do that. :M:r. CL.ARK of Wyoming. I want to say to the Senator I know Mr. MALLORY. I do not care to interrupt the proceedings nothing about Colorado, but so far as his statement that eight out this morning on the appropriation bill, but simply give notice now, of ten acres in Wyoming are entered fraudulently, I say unquali that after the routine business to-morrow I shall call up the reso fiedly that is not true. lution. Mr. President, I did not intend to be drawn into any heated dis Mr. PENROSE. Then I renew my motion. cussion of this question, although I feel strongly upon it. I feel The PRESIDENT pro tempore. One moment. The Chair that it would be one of the greatest mistakes in the legislation of wishes the attention of the Senator from Rhode Island. The reso this country that was ever made to turn back the progress of that lution, by unanimous consent, having been laid on the table sub whole overburdened region, and with my consent, unless I have ject to call, the Chair does not see any reason why it should not further knowledge, it never will be done. be called up. Now, I will call attention to an editorial. I have spoken four Mr. ALDRICH. Does the Chair hold that that would be a con times as long as I intended, and I crave the pardon of the Senate. tinuing order, which would enable a Senator, either the author I I bad no intention of saying anything except in a general way. or any other Senator, to call up a resolution at any time and lay ( I call attention to an editorial on this same question that seemed public business aside for the consideration of the resolution? l to stir up the advocates of this measure so much, the idea of an The PRESIDENT pro tempo1·e. If the Senate gives its unani interested interest seeking the repeal of these laws. I want to mous consent to such a condition of things, the Chair does not refer to an editorial from a newspaper of repute in the city of see how it can be avoided. Denver, speaking of the discussion that occurred here the other Mr. ALDRICH. During my service in the Senate I have never ) day. It is headed "A land lobby in Washington." I do not known that course to be followed. We have laid resolutions upon often read from newspapers; I believe they usually tell the truth the table to allow the author of the resolution to call it up for the or seek to do so; but I read this simply as showing the opinion purpose of making a spBech. but not for consideration. of at least a certain part of the citizens of Colorado. :M:r. CARMACK. 'I.tlat is why I called it up. :M:r. HANSBROUGH. From what paper does the Senator read? Mr. BACON. I should like to suggest that heretofore those Mr. CLARK of Wyoming. From the Denver Republican, the agreements have generally been considered to apply to the morn leading Republican paper in the State of Colorado, I believe. "A ing hour, and that the right to call up would not in that way in land lobby in Washington," it is headed, and it is an editorial. terfere with the regular business of the Senate, which begins at [Rrom the Denver Republican, March ZT, 1904.] 2 o'clock. That has been the practice, I think, heretofore, and that has been regarded as the natural operation of an agreement of A LAND LOBBY IN WASHINGTON. that kind. · Senator H.ANSBROUGH charges that there is a lobby at work in Washing ton trying to bring about the repeal of the desert-land law, the timbet and Mr. ALDRICH. In my experience in the Senate I have never stone acts, and the commutation clause of the homestead law. known a resolution which was lying on the table called up for There is practically no doubt that he is fully justified in making this charge. The great land-grant railroads, and men who have purcha!!ed from consideration to the exclusion of other business without a motion, them large tracts of land, are deeply interested in the proposed legislation. and it is very unsafe to have any such rule or-any such precedent · Whatever would make it more difficult for a home seeker to secure land established. from the Government would enlarge the market and enhance the value of Mr. CARMACK. I should like ask the Senator what is the rai1rcad lands. It is not strange, therefore, if the land-grant railroads are to exerting their influence to induce Congress to r estrict the power of the peo effect of having a resolution lie on the table subject to call? What ple to acquire public land. Their interest is gi'eat enough to make it ~rofi.t is the effect of that? able to them in the event of success to maintain a powerful lobby in Wash ington, and that they are doing so hardly admits of doubt or question. Mr. ALDRICH. That the author of the resolution desiring to Congress should stand with the people. It should increa!Ee rather than make remarks upon it may call it up for that purpose during the curtail the facilities for acquiring homes on the public domain. It is to the morning hour. interest of the whole country, and especially of the far West, that the people Mr. CARMACK. May I not call it up for the purpose of en- be enabled to acquire homes in this section. The public lands are of value to the public only to the extent that they may be put to profitable use by the abling another Senator to address the Senate? people. So long as they are in the hands of the Government they yield no Mr. ALDRICH. Undoubtedly. revenue through taxation, and except for grazing purposes they are unpro ductive. They should be placed at the disposal of honest people who are try. :M:r. PENROSE. We have· passed the time for resolutions. ing to secm·e homes which will make them self-supporting and responsible The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair has not before this citizens. session known of any case where aresolution was laidon the table Now, I call the attention of the Senate to the question of fraud, subject to the call of the Senator who offered it, but a large num which is also mentioned here: ber of resolutions have been laid on the table at the present session of Congress subject to call. That there have been frauds in connection with the acquisition of land under the different land acts is not denied, but the evil comes not so much Mr. ALDRICH. Then I hope we shall not permit that to be from the law as from the manner in which it is enforced. Let the laws now done hereafter, if the ruling now made by the Chair is to hold, on the statutes be strictly enforced and there will be little occasion or ground because it would certainly enable a Senator to offer a resolution for complaint. to interfere with the business of the Senate at any time for the Mr. President, I beg pardon of the Senate for detaining it so purpose of its consideration. long with these rambling remarks. Mr. CARMACK. My object was to call up the resolution in the morning hour for the purpose of permitting the Senator from PENSION ORDER OF INTERIOR DEPARTMENT. Florida to address the Senate upon it. Mr. PENROSE. I move that the Senate proceed to the con Mr. TELLER. Mr. President, as I understand the rule, a Sen sideration of the Post-Office appropriation bill. ator lets his resolution lie on the table. He says he will call it up Mr. CARMACK. If I have the right, I would like to call up hereafter. I understand he must call it up during the morning the resolution I have on the table. hour; that he can not call it up at any other time, and that if he The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The resolution seems to have calls it up five minutes before the morning honr expires it goes been laid on the table subject to call. Otherwise the motion made over at the expiration of the morning honr. by the Senator from Pennsylvania would take precedence. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. There is not any doubt a bout it, Mr. MALLORY. Mr. Presidant- Mr. TELLER. That is the rule. Mr. ALDRICH. I do not understand that "subject to call" Mr. BAILEY. I can not quite understand how either the dan means that it may be called up at any time to the exclusion of all ger or the inconvenience which the Senator from Rhode Island other business. If it does I think we shall certainly have to ob seems to apprehend could possibly arise.