تے H. J. RES. 58, H. R. 9814, and 10058 TO ALTER AND AMEND AN ACT ENTITLED "AN ACT GRANTING LANDS TO AID IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A RAILROAD AND TELEGRAPH LINE FROM THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE The committee met at 10.20 o'clock a. m., Hon. Scott Ferris (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen of the committee, we have met this morning to begin the consideration of the Oregon-California Railroad land-grant question. The United States Supreme Court, in the case of the United States v. the Oregon & California Railroad Co. and others, cited in 238 United States Reports at page 393, has decided this case and has made a very peculiar reference in this, that it asks the Congress to carry out the judgment within a period of six month's time. We have with us this morning several gentlemen interested in this question. We have invited the gentlemen from the department and all the Members of Congress from Oregon, and Senator Chamberlain. Senator Chamberlain wants to be heard during the early proceedings of this matter, but is not in the city this morning and can not be present. The Interior Department is here by Commissioner Tallman; the Agricultural Department is here by Mr. Potter; the Department of Justice is here by Mr. Williams. I have had a short conference with these gentlemen in the other room, and I suggested to them that some one of them had better take this up and deal with it in a very elementary way, so that we can know what we are doing and have a better foundation before we start to consider the matter. The Department of Justice, through Mr. Williams, is very familiar with the matter, and, unless there is some objection, we will hear from Mr. Williams at this time on House Joint Resolution 58, by Mr. Raker, H. R. 10058, by Mr. Hawley, and H. R. 9814, by Mr. Wilson, of Illinois. Inasmuch as we are trying to consider the whole matter, we can have those three bills under consideration, with a view to perfecting some legislation later which may be a substitute for all three of them, or maybe any one of them, whichever course the committee may see fit to take. Now, if there is no objection, we will hear from Mr. Williams of the Department of Justice. STATEMENT OF MR STEPHEN W. WILLIAMS, ATTORNEY, Mr. WILLIAMS. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, perhaps, for the information of the committee, as preliminary to my statement, I might state briefly the history of the legislation as well as the litigation that has grown out of it. The CHAIRMAN. I wish you would. Give us the facts first. 3 |