Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-02-18
miscellaneous.
SOLDIERS' LAND BILL.

The following is the text of the soldiers
homestead bill as it passed the House of
Representatives on 13st inst, by vote of
1S4 to 2. 1t is, we think, just bill, and
cannot benefit land speculators, for the rea-
son that it requires actual settlement of the
soldier or the land
A Bill to enable honorable discharged SOL
diers and sailors, their widows and or
plan children to acquire homesteads on
the public lands of the United States.
BE IL enacted By the Senate and House Of
Representatives Of The United States Of
1mericd in Congress assembled, That every
private soldier and officer who has served
in the army of the United States during
the recent rebellion, for ninety days, and
who was honorably discharged, and has
remained loyal to the government, includ-
ing the troops mustered into the service Of
the United States by virtue Of the third
section of an act entitled San act making
appropriations for completing the defenses
of Washington, and for other purposes"
approved February -, 1862, and every
seaman, 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 ninety days, and who was
honorably discharged, and has remained
pliance with the provisions of au act enti-
tied ''An act to secure homestcads to actual
settlers on the public domain, I" and the acts
amendatory thereofas hereinafter modified,
be entitled to enter upon and receive pat
ents for a quantity of public lands (not
mineraD not exceeding one hundred and
sixty acres, or one quarter section, to be
taken in compact form according to legal
subdivisions, including the alternate re-
served sections of public lands along the
line of any railroad or other public work,
or other lands subject to entry under the
homestead laws in the United States,
wherever public lands have been OF may
be granted by acts of Congress Provided,
That said homestead settler shall be allow
ed twelve months after locating his home
stead within which to commence his settle
ment and improvement And prOrlded
also, That the time which the homestead
settler shall have served in the army, navy
or marine corps as aforesaid, or if dis
charged on account of wounds received or
disability incurred in the line of duty, then
! the term of enlistment shall be deducted
! from the time heretofore required to perfect
title And prorided further, That any
homestead settler, rs aforesaid, may assign
1 his homestead certificate within twelve
months from the date thereof to any citizen
of the United States over 81 years of age,
| or person who has declared his intention tC
become such. who has not previously avail
ed himself Of the benefits of the homestead
or pre-emption laws, and said assignee
should succeed to all the rights of the said
homestead settler; but no such assignor o.
! a homestead certificate shall therefore have
the right to avail himself of the benefit o
this act or the acts heretofore passed grant
ing homesteads TO actual settlers nor shal
such assignee have the right TO acquire any
other homestead under said acts PrOrideC
hOirerer, That no patent shall ISSUE TO !
homestead settler or his assignee who ha
not resided upon, improved, land cultivated
his said homestead for period OF ut leaS
two years, except as provided in section
four of this act.
SEc. 2. Ind be Il further enacted, Tha
any person entitled under the provisions c
the foregoing section 10 enter homestead
who may have heretofore entered under th,
homestead laws quantity Of land less thai
one hundred and sixty acres, shall be per
mitted 10 enter under the provisions of thl
act 80 much land as, when added TO In
quantity previously entered, shall not eN
ceed one hundred aud sixty acres,
SEC. 3. And be il further enacted, Tha
In case OF the death Of any person VIII
would bc entitled 10 q homestead under th
provisions Of the first section OF this act
his widow, II unmarried, or In case OF hs
death or marriage, then his minor 0rpha
p children, shall be entitled TO all the benefit
enumerated ia this act Provided, That
such person died during his term u enlis
ment, the whole term vi his enlistment aha
~ deducted lfom tho time heretofore u
. lulred 10 perfect the title,
sEC. A. Aad b q JuriheT eadcied, Thl
every private soldier, aud every seamai
niaTlns, aud OliceT hho served la ihe arm
Z OF navy ior the said period OF nlnety day
. and Is now lnscflbelOn the pension rolls
Z tho United states, or u entitled 90 he
/, inscribed on account ul souuls received I
= disabilities lneurrvd la the llne ui dat
A may, la lieu VI the rlghls, pnylleses al
! heneals heTvlnbeiore e0nkFgyd, enlir upo
. by an agent 0r allogntY, and receive "a IA
4 pui lOf One quarleT'sectlun pl and, AZ m
yllod Ia section ono % lhls act, Aud shah
!, entitled 10 an ll,e beneAls "a sald hfol tt
!, lloa, kiid liable ~ All lhe proY lher,
!. eseppl as 10 the actual r,sldeues, and th
a sll ails and lhlga nQvir,d ~ ~ done
= 6aid homestead teiilel, ani said nIsi n
llun, NAY ~ aolia ID saii asegt " atil
y noY ifufhifi, Thai 40 salh Hgent
allasuey shall acl AZ each lsI msle VA
Gas lsgsoA AZ ll,a saial uias,
3D.. 81 1ad ~ y lsflllf fHaflfd, ~
al dtfl4lalloAs ksld pooh le4Ailtl unA