Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-06-01
The Homestead Bills.

The Homestead bill, passed by the United
States House of Representatives, in March last,
Ia simple and bcnficent measure, intended,
as its title declares, to secure homesteads to
actual settlers on the public domain. 1t en-
acts that any person who is the head OF
family, or of the age of 81 years, who is, or
has filed an intention Of becoming, citizen
of the United States, may enter, free OF cost,
provided it is for his or her exclusive benefit,
100 acres of unappropriated public lands, on
which presumption claim has been filed, by
such person, or which may be subject to
presumption, at Sl.25 or less per acre; or 80
acres may be entered at 50 so per acre. The
certificate for this land is not to be given for
five years from the date of entry, and then,
or within two years afterward, the person
making the entry, or the widow, or the widow
er, or the infant child, or other heir, shall re-
ceive the patent, by paying $40, on proof
that the land was occupied for the five years
by the person in whose name the entry was
ma L. or by the heirs. In case the heirs are
infants, the claim may be held or sold for
their benefit by the executor, administrator,
or guardian. The land thus acquired can in
no event become liable for the satisfaction of
any debts contracted prior to the issue of the
patent. Noperson spermitted to make more
than one entry the settler loses his claim if
it is abandoned for more than six months );
and all persons who have heretofore filed ap
plications for the presumption rights are emit.
tied to the benefit of this act, and the act is
not to interfere with existing rights. This is
the House bill; and the measure is one which
should commend itself to the justice, the
good sense, and the humanity, of the people
at large, whose interest it is, directly and
I'll 81 Ill :IoI
on the public domain for all who need them,
and that an end shall be put to speculation in
these lands.
This bill was sent to the Senate, where it
was subjected to serious handling, giving
to it quite other form and features.
BY the Senate bill, the privilege is limited
to heads of families who are citizens, or who
have become citizens before patent is claim
ed; thus cutting off young men VIII, are not
heads Of families. Instead Of giving the land
free Of cost, it requires payment of 25 cents
an acre from the settler, beside the usual fees.
It is provided that the act shall not affect ex-
listing presumption, donation, or graduation
lands; nor is it permitted to embrace lands
which have been reserved to be sold or en-
tered at $3.50 per acre, thus denying set
tlelnent to those who want a free home, on a
large portion of the public domain; and, con-
trary to the spirit of a Homestead bill, it re-
auires only settlement Of three months, as
qualification under the graduation act, to
entitle a settler to an entry. To actual set
tiers, by which, we presume, the bill means
to designate persons who are already squat
tcrs upon the public land two years from the
time ofoccupaton are given to perfect a claim,
if the lands have not been offered at public
sales; and the same period from the time of
the receipt of the approved plat at the Land
Office, where the lands have not been sur
veyed; the settler, however, is obliged to pay
for his claim at the minimum price of such
lands, which means, we suppose, Sl.25 per
acre. But, probably to PALATE this injustice
to the old settlers, he is called upon to prove
actual settlement for only three months.
In these important respects, the Senate
bill has been changed from the straightfor-
ward and wholesome act of the House. Bat
these are not the only differences. Other
provisions are saddled upon it, which destroy
its character as simple Homestead bill. 1t
enacts that the President shall order into
market, within two years, all the lands which
have been or may hereafter be surveyed, ex-
cept, lands which have been ordered to be re-
served for any purpose. And it also cedes
to the States in which they may lie all lands
which remain unsold after the lapse of thir-
ty-fve years, provided the State will accept
them, and the ccssion interferes with no pri-
or claim. ..t ..F s..
1t is this bill thus amended by the Senate
for which, when it came back to them, the
House substituted their original act, and
again returneditto the Senate. They did wise
ly; for this is not much better than no Home
stead bill at all. 1t is a great deal less than
half loaf-N. Y. Tribune.