The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-02-06


Full Text of the Bill Recently
Passed diving Every SOLDIER .
Homestead.
A bill to enable honorsoly discharged sol
d,ers and sailors, their widows and orphan
children to acquire homestesds on the
public lands OF the United States.
BE ii enacted, &c, That every private
soldier and officer who has served ia the
army OF the United States during the recent
rebellion, for ninety days, and who was hon
orsbly discharged and remained loyal to the
Govern ment, Including the troops mustered
into the service of the United States by vir,
tue OF the third section of an act entitled
An act making appropriations for complet-
ing the defense of Washington and for other
purposes, approved Feb. Is, 1862 and
every seamau, marine and officer or other
person who has served in the navy OF the
United States or in the marine corps during
the rebellion, for Il inety days, and who was
honorablv discharged ard has remained
loyal to the Government, shall, on compli-
ance with the provisions OF an act entitled
An act to secure homesteads to actual
settles on The public domain" and the cess
smendatory thereof IS hereinafter modiheo,
be entitled to enter upon and receive pa'ents
for quantity OF public lands, not mineral
not exceeding leo acres. or one quarter sec
ton, to be taken in compact form, according
to legal subdivisions, including the alternate
ressryed sections of pu bic lands along the
line of any railroad or other public work, or
other lands subjects TO entry under the
homestead laws. in the United States where
ever public lands have been or may be
granted by acts of Congress; provided that
said homestead settler shall be allowed
twelve months after locating his homestead
within which to commence his settlement
and mprovements; and provden also that
the time which the homestead settler shall
have served in the army, navy, or marine
corps as aforesaid, or if discharged
on account OF wounds re-
ceived or disability incurred in the line of
duty, then the term of enlistment shall be
deducted from the time heretofore required
to perfect title /; aud provided further that
any HOMESTEAD settler as aforesaid may
assign his from the date thereof to any clti-
zaa OF the United States over twenty one
Years of age, or any person who has declar-
ed his intention 10 become such, who has
not previously awaited himself of the benefits
of the Homestead or Pre- emption laws, aud
the assignee shall succeed to al the rights
of the said homestead settler, but no such
assignor of homestead certificate shall
thereafter have the right 10 avail himself OF
the benefit to this act or the acts heretofore
passed, granting homesteads to actual set
tless. nor shall such assignee have the ri ght
to acquire any other homestead under said
acts provided, however, that no patent
shall issue TO homestead settler. or his
assignee who has no, resided upon. prov.
ed and cultivated his said homestead for a
period of al less! NO wears, except as pro.
vlded in section four Of this act.
SEC. .. Ana be ii further enacted, That
any person entitled. uader the provisions Of
the foregoing section, to enter homestead
who may have heretofore entered under the
homestead laws a quantity OF land less than
100 acres. shall be permitted to enter, under
the provisions OF this act, so much land as,
when added 10 the quantity previously
entered, shall rot exceed leo acres.
SEC. 3. And be II further enacted, That
IN case Of The death Of any person who
would be entitled to homestead under pro-
visions of the first section of this act, his
widow, if unmarried, or in case of her heath
or marriage. then ais minor orphan chill
dren, shall be entitled TO ell the benefits
enumerated in this act; prorjded, that if
such person died during his term of enlist
meut the whole term of his enlistment shall
be deducted from the time heretofore
required TO perfect the title.
SEC. +. And be it further enacted, That
every private soldier and every seaman,
marine and officer who served in the army
aud navy for the said period of ninety days,
and is now inscribed on the pension rolls
OF the United States, CT is entitled
!
Of wounds received or disabilities in
Cured in the line Of duty, may, 10 lieu of
the rights, privileges and benefits herein be
fore conferred enter upon, by an agent or
attorney, and receive a patent for one quar-
ter section of land, as provided in section
one of this act. and shall be entitled to al
the benefits of said first section, or liable to
ell the provisions thereof except as to the
actual residence, and that all acts and things
required to be done by said homestead set
tier by said frat section may be done by said
agent or attorney provided that no sue b
agen, or attorney shall act such for more
than one person at the same time.
SEC. ). And be 1t further enacted, That
all declarations and proofs required unde,
this act and the former acts granting home
steads TO actual set,lsrs, may Re taken before
the indge or clerk of any court of record in
the United States, or in any State or Terri
tory and when duly authenticated, under
the Off cial seal of such court, shall be the
same force and effect as if taken before the
register or receiver of the proper nd office
Sec 4nd be 1t further enacted. Thai
the Commissioner of the General Land
Oifce shall have authority to make al need
full rules and regulations to carry into effect
the provisions of this act
The above bill of that hypocritical denim
gogue aarlan,is the meanest dodge to secur'
the gratitude and votes of the soldier, tina
ever originated from his scheming brain
The soldiers of the country recognize THU
fact, and demand an immediate effort for it
amendment.
The law as it now staDds really amount
TO nothing. 1t grants nothing to soldier
beyond what is enjoyed by every citizen
under the homestead law, except that 0
settling on the lands along certain railroad
lines, and under all circumstances, ever
this privilege is of no practical advantage
requirements of actual settlement and resi-
dence upon the lsnds for term c
wears in order to obtain a perfect It'll
thereto. These conditions make tn
law worthless to nine tanth
of the soldiers, as by far the greater til
greater n u III Der of them have homes and pos
tions which they cannot and will not sacr
fee in order to avail themselves of the sms
advantages offered in this law, yet thes
men are all entitled in ustice to bount
land. But farther there is a large class arm
less, legless and otherwise crippled soldiers