Mr. DONNELLY. I beg to say, in reply to the inquiry of the Gentfrom Iowa, [Mr. Kassosfl that this bill makes no new grant whatever. It does not add a foot of land to what has been already granted. Its provisions refer simply to details in regard to the grants already made. For instance, it provides that when bona fide settlers have gone upon the lands to which this company has acquired title the company shall not be compelled to disossess them and drive them from their homes, at may go elsewhere and select other lands in lieu thereof a measure favorable to the settlers and against the company, since it is probable that the lands so settled upon are nearer the roads and of more value than the lands taken in lieu thereof. It also provides that the number of miles of railroad required to be built before the company shall acuire title to any of its lands under the grant s 121.1ble reduced from 20 miles to ten miles. That is to ay, when the company has built ten miles of read they shall acquire one halfthe number ofacres they would have acquired under the former bill by building 20 miles. This is but a just and equitable provision and is rendered necessary by the increasing difficulty experienced in the construction of western railroads. And while it is a measure of convenience and advantage to the companies, it is no detriment to the Government, since it gives the companies nothing in addition to what they are already entitled to. There are other matters in this bill, some for the advantage of the company, some for the people, and which I shall be happy to state if any gentlemen desire it. It might be a question whether in such a bill as this, we could insert such a provision as the Gentfrom Iowa [Mr. Ksssow'] refers to, since we are not now granting lands but are legislating in regard to grants already made, amll in which these companies now have vested ri its. gMr. KASSON. If my friend will allow me, I will state that in a similar case alfcmini a, land grant to my own State, I submitted that reposition to the ComProblic Lands 5.iy argument is that where we cgrant any new benefit whatever to a railroad company we have a right to accompany that giant with certain, conditions therein set forth., 3 In that aspect it l comes entirely in our power vto accompany the grant of any new privilege"with the condition 1, have named, and I very 'inuch hoped that my l friendfrom Minnesota [Mira Donssmx] would have inserted that condizpn in his bill. I was this morningloo 'ing at the map of the i railroad grants to the State of Minnesota pub;lished by the Land Oliicc, the grants are, and fro looking at the map it certainly seemed to me at 1/2 or nearly 3/4ths of the pub'c lands Of that State were covered by railroad Mr. RICE, of Maine. Iowa, I suppose. Laughter]