The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1860-06-02

~ = - 80 I'm.
A tehel Aic a. atch ID q colunns JesaeN
DAY noeni1e infor a or rsaas 49, -
asstr ~ Of 4 % -, vssJ Dsnocsas, sos'as
YEA except Rice, again sU6ssitsted FOR the Home
stead bin Of The House, very different bill
which comes very far short Of what u demanded.
By shis eenaae substitute only heads Of families
Who arc eitisens or who become citizens before
patent il claimed are entitled TO the benefits Of
the law. Instead Of giving the land free Of cost,
IL requires payment Of IS cents an acre from
the settler, beside the usual fees. II 10 provided
that the act shall not affect existing presumption
donation OF graduation lands; NOR Il i permit
ted to embrace lands which have been reserved
to be sold or entered at sa 50 per acre, thus de-
uying q settlement to those who want free
home, on large portion Of the public domaan;
and, contrary to the spirit Of Homestead biii'
II requires only . settlement Of three months as
qualification under the Graduation Act, 70 en-
title settler to an entry. To actual settlers oy
which, We presume, the bill means to designate
persons Who are already quatters upon the pub
lie land. two years from the time Of occupation
are given to perfect claim, If the lands have
not been offered at public sales: and the
same period from the time Of the receipt OF the
approval plat at the Land Oiace, shere the lands
have not been surveyed; the settler, however,
is obliged to pay for his claim at the minimum
price Of such lands, which means, We suppose,
81 IS per acre. But, probably to pailiate
this Injustice to the old settler, he Is called
upon to prove .ctual settlement for only three
months.
In these important respects, the Senate I'LL
has been changed from the Straightforward and
| wholesome act Of the House. But these are moi
the only differences. Other provisions are sad
died upon it, which destroy its character as {
simple Homestead bill. 1t enacts that the Pres
ident shall order into market, within two years
all the lands which have been or may hereatte
be surveyed, except lands which have been or
dered to be reserved for any purpose. And
also cedes to the States in which they may le al
lands which remain unsold after the lapse Q
thirty five years, provided the State will accep
them, and the cession interfere with no prio
claim.
The Homestead bill demanded by the pocpi
and passed twice through the House by the Re
publican majority is very different affair. Tn
Democratic majority in the Senate does not vot
it down and xiii it directly, but resort to the es
pedient Of amending it to death BY substitusin
an odious law. Demagogues all over the Aorst
west profess friendship for the Homestead BIZ
while their Denosretc leaders and allies in til
Senate, including their ieadisg candidates fo
the Presidency, kill off the measure and proven
the passage Of any law.
The Homestead bill Of the House. in supper
Of which the Republican party is unit, an
upon which it is ready to 60 before the people
provided that any person who Is the head OF
family, or of the age Of 81 years, who is, or ha
fled an intention of becoming a citizen of til
United States may enter, free of cost, provide
it is for his or her exclusive benefit, lG0 acres
unappropriatcd public ianda. on which pr
] emption claim has been fled by such person. G
which may be subject to presumption, at 81 .
|. or less per acre or so acres MAY be entered 9
81 so per acre. The certificate for this land
not to DO given for FIVE years from the date {
entry, and then, OF within two years afterwar'
the person making the entry, OF the widow, {
the widower, or the infant child, or other hei
shall receive the patent, by paving so, on prot
that the land was occupied for the FIVE years i
the person in whose name the entry was mad
| or by the heirs. I'm case the kdiTG are infant
, the claim may be- held or sold for their beuei
by the executor, administrator or guardian.
The land thus acquired can in no event beeon
, liable for the satisfaction of any debts eontrac
| ed prior to the issue Of the patent. No perso
! is permitted to make more than one entry; Il
settler loses his claim If it is abandoned for mo
than six months; and all persons who ha,
heretofore filed applications for the pre.emptlt
right are entitled to the benefit OF this act, al
the act is not to interfere with existing right
This is the House bill and the measure is OF
which should commend Itself to the justice, Il
good sense, and the humanity, of the people
: large, whose interest it is, directly and indree
ly, that free homes shall be provided on the pu
lie domain for all who need them, and that 4
end shall be put to speculation in these lands.
ii