The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-01-05
Usage DIMINISHED RESERVE.
E1tendedTlne OrPayment for settlers

Usage DIMINISHED RESERVE.
Extended Time Of Payment for Settlers.
It has been q sesrious question
with the settlers of the Usage Di-
minished Reserve, as to what was
to become of their lands. The time
for paymant expired on the 18th of
November, and thousands OF them,
we suppose. from what we have
heard, could not make. payment.
r ately for them, it has been
the policy of the present admins
tration to favor settlers in every
reasonable way, instead of land
grabbers, and we believe very little
of that fine tract of land viii fall
into the hands OF others than bona
fide settlers. The settlers are
poor, as is generally the case with
that class. and have only made
enough, since the settlement OF the
land, to live upon. Some of them
have entered their lands by saerifi-
cling half OF 1t, and others by pay
ing ruinous rates of interest. If
those who have not yet paid for
their land can only have time to,
make next seasons crop available,
they viii. be prepared to make pay
ment. ~ = ,n1sccs 80 .as-o4 y Ia
d. Our readers may be aware, that
the bill for the survey and settle
ment of the Usage Diminished Re-
serve, was passed at the close of the
congress of 1870, and upon the LAST
night of the session This amend
ment was moved upon the Indian
appropriation bill by Senator
Pomeroy, of this State, the first ap-
preparation bill having failed by q
disagreement upon the subject of
Indian Treaties, between the two
houses. This amendment in the
hasty manner of its preparation had
not a full measure of provisions,
which had passed the Senate. in a
previous bill. But it accomplishe d
one object had in view by the mov-
crit did recognize the rights Of
the settlers, thus preventing the
Threatened removal, and it did
place the lands for them at one doll
lar and INVENTIVE cents per acre.
Those on the lands at the date Of
the act Gully 18th, 1900 had one
year to pay for their lands, and all
others one year from ethe date of
settlement. But the measure did
not require the usual prerequisite
OF filing, and did not contain any
provision of forfeiture, in case OF
non-payment, nor did it give the
power to the Commissioner or Secre-
tarY to prescribe rules and regula-
tions, &c, &C. ...-., .-.r3 .. Il
In this view of the case, and in
absence of law, the Secretary did
extend the time for the first class OF
settlers to pay, from the 10Th of Jul
ly to the 18th of November p And
upon application for extension OF
time, made recently by memorial
from Cowley County, the Secretary
decided that he had mo. power to
act further in the premises. He
directed the Commissioned to ask
for new legislation, and thereupon
addressed a letter and prepared
q bill for. Senator Pomeroy to pre-.
sent for passage by Congress. This
bill gives all settlers whose time
has expired, the right to file anew
if they are the first settlers, and
gives them one; year from the pass
| age for, payment. 1t also gives 8
discretion to the Secretary to adjust
the claims to embrace any legal sub
division OF land. 1t will be seen by
| this, that all the settlers whose time
of payment has expired, will still
have opportunity to pay, and ever
probably more time than they ask
ed. We are Informed that this bill
will not pass before spring, and
then they will have q whole year
more to make proof and payment
We are safe, then, at present, in ad
visiug all bona-fde settlers to stic1
to their claims. No one can remove
them, and there is no purpose OIL
disposition to do it. We earnestly
urge them to improve their lands
and make good homes, for every
thing looks as though they will have
even better opportunities to pay
than those on the public land under
the presumption laws. The whole
lquestiOn of payment for Osag.
lands, including the ETrust Lands
and the "Dimiminished Reserve.
is now before the Senate upon rec
ommendation of the Commissioner
and Mr.. Pomeroy has the bill ready
to present. The known delays OF
Congress are favorable for extension
of time. The officers can't act with
out law, and must wait, And thu
settlers will get their time extended
be kept out of the clutches OF thu
northumberland make payment
to the officers, when better prepar
ed than they can be this year. '.
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