The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-06-10
KANSAS IN CONGRESS.

The Champions Washington CORE
spondcnt gives the following synopsis
Of important Kansas measures pending
or lately passed by Congress:
Mr.. Ryan's bill authorizing the Secre-
tary of the Interior to certify the selec-
ton of school lands heretofore made by
the State of Kansas, has passed the
House.
The same geatleman's bill to graduate
the price and provide for the disposal
of the Usage trust and diminished re-
served lands, lying east Of the sixth prin-
cipal meridian, has also passed the
House. This is a very important meas
ure, and should it become law, will
prove highly advantageous TO the sec
ton of the State in which these lands
are situated. As is well known all the
really desirable lands for agricultural
purposes on the tract in question have
been taken, aud the large body which
remains, through valuable for pastoral
purposes, cannot be sold under the limi-
tatiOns and requirements Of The pre-emp-
ton law, which under the treaty and
the legislation following it, governs the
sale. No one will give dollar aud q
qurater an acre for it. No cue wants
il with the obligations Of actual settle
ment and continuous residence. The
limitations of o hundred and sixty acres
to one purchaser Of course puts It out
Of the power Of any individual 70 hold
large tract for grazing purposes.
The bill referred to proposes to sell
the lands at puplic auction ON the first
day of July, 1881, at not less than seven
ty-five cents an acre thoes unsold at
that time and price, TO be offered one
year later at not less than fifty cents An
acre and those still remaining unsold
at the end OF the third year to be dis
posed of ct not less than twenty-five
cents an acre. There u NO doubt that at
one of these three prices all the lands
would be sold and become Immediately
productive stock raising on q large
scale would become the chief industry
of the region, and tho State and several
counties would be largly benefited by
the inceased revenues from taxation.
The treaty with the Osages stipulated
that none Of the lands should be sold nj
less than . dollar and quarter An acre.
so that the consent of the Indians will
have to be obtained before the proposed
measure can become operative. There
would hardly be any difficulty about
that, however, for the lands are abso-
lutely unsaleable under the restrictions
of the treaty, and whatever they could
be sold for under the bill would be 80
much clear gain to the Indian fund.
Undoubtedly the most important
measure to Kansas pending In Congress
Is the bill to permit settlers on public
lands in the western part of the State
20 leave their claims for o year without
risk Of forfeiture, and to extend for q
corresponding period the time for max
ing final proof This bill introduced BY
Nj. Ryan, has passed the house, and
will undoubtedly pass the Senate in O
day or two. Its importance cannot be
overestimated. Without il large prp-
portion Of the people in the wess9yn
coupties' where tho crops cave been
DESTROYED, would either be compelled
to leave their homes and sacrifice their
claims and improvements, or, If they re.
NAMED on them, could only do 80 BY
the charitable aid ofpcopie more FORUM
atefv cireumstanced. There il extreme
anxiety all through the western part of
the State to have this bill become law.
The bin a. it psssed the House applied
10 ali of the STATE west of the east line
Of Barton county, It viii be amended
in the Senste 10 include all west Of tbs |
sixth principal meridian, and portion
Of Nebraska viii also be embraced II its !
provisions. Il
In addition TO the one hundred and
ninsty odd thoasond dollars certified by |
the First c Comptroller to be due the State |
on account of the i've per cont claim, |
which covered tbs accounting made Ep |
10 the sOsh Of June, 1877, the Cosamis- |
uioner Of the General Land Once has /
lscersained the amount due on sales !
made from that date to june S0ih, 1873,
which il sbcut fhirty-eight thousand /
dollars. An effort Will be made 10 &C.
,ure an appropriation 81 this session. bu:
.h< time i SOS so short tia, success IS
lDcertsir.
The Appropriate. q Csasia.ites 'nssrt-
ii fifty hossand dollars IN the suadry
,iyii b;i,. To con: isUe the s0rk On the
Topeka building, shieh b q good thing
or Topekar