Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-02-03
The Homestead Bill.


WASHINGTON, January H.-The motion in
the Senate to lay aside the homestead bill
was rejected.
The pending amendment being tina, sub
mitted yesterday by Howe, providing that
nothing in the act shall be construed to affect
the title which the State of Wisconsin, or its
assignees, may have to lands granted to the
State to aid in the construction of railroads,
by the act approved June 3, 1856. After he
bate, vote was taken on the amendment Of
Howe and It was rejected. Yeas, 8; nays,
Al.
Howe then submitted IN amendment, pro-
viding that the Commissioner of the General
Land Office shall not hereafter restore such
lands to the market without authority from
Congress. Rejected; yeas, 10; nays, 80.
Howe next submitted an amendment pro-
viding that nothing in the act shall be held to
confer upon the General Land Office the
power to restore to the market any land once
granted to o State for railroad purposes.
Rejected.
Cameron moved to strike out of the third
section the words-"Or when the grantee was
in default in performance of any Of the con-
ditons imposed by such grant," 50 that the
section should read
THAT all such pre-emption and homestead
entries which may have been made by per-
mission of the Land Department, or in pur-
suance OF the rules and instructions thereof,
within the limits of any land grant at a time
subsequent to the expiration of such grant be
deemed valid and in compliance with the law
and the making of the proof required shall
entitle the holder of such claim to patent
therefor
Agreed to, and the bill having been con-
sidered as in Committee of the Whole, it was
reported to the Senate and the amendments
made by the committee were agreed to- The
question being on the passage of the bill, the
yeas and nays were ordered and it was
passed. Yeas, A; nays, 0.
The bill as passed is as follows:
BE 1t enacted by tie Senate and House Of
Representatives. in Congress assembled:
That all pre-emption and homestead entry
or entries, in compliance with any law of the
United States, of the public lands made in
good faith by actual settlers, upon tract of
land of not more than 100 acres each, within
the limits of any land grant prior to the time
when the notice Of the withdrawal of the
lands embraced in such grant was received at
the local land Office of the district in which
such lands are situated, or after their restor-
alton to market by order of the General Land
Office, and where the pre-emption and home
stead laws have been complied with, and the
proper proofs thereof have been made by the
parties holding such tracts or parcels, they
shall DE confirmed and patents for the same
shall issue to the parties entitled thereto.
Sec. 2. That when at the time of such with
drawal as aforesaid, o valid redemption or
homestead claim existed upon any lands
within the limits Of any such grants which
afterwards were abandoned, and under the
decisions end rulings of the Land Department
were re-entered by pre-cmption or homestead
claimants, who have compiled with the laws
governing pre-emption or homestead entries,
or shall make the proper proofs required un-
der such laws, such entries shall be deemed
valid, and patents shall issue therefor to the
person entitled thereto.
Sec. 8. That all such pre-emption and !
homestead entries which may have been |
made by permission of the Land Department |
within the limits of any land grant at any !
time subsequent to the expiration of such |
grant shall be deemed valid, and compli- |
ance with the laws and the making of the |
proof required shall entitle the holder of such |
claim to patent therefor