The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-28
PROPOSED LEGISLATION.

Measures Under Consideration by the Various
Committees.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE two or three ap-
preparation bills promised three weeks ago have
not yet made their appearance in the House. In
fact, they are not yet out of the hands of the sub
committees of the committee on appropriations.
The shipping bill, recently reported from the
select committee on shipping, is perhaps the
most important measure before the House, and
it is expected a motion will be made by General
Slocum to proceed to its consideration in com
mittee of the whole.
Reports from the committee on accounts, in re
lation to the removal of employees of the House
at the close of last Congress, are expected TO be
made on Wednesday.
The Fitz John Porter discussion will be re-
sumed on Friday.
The Northern Pacific railroad people will be
heard in defense of their land grants by the
House committee on public lands on Tuesday,
and on the same day the committee on Pacific
mail roads viii be addressed by Judge DE Long,
of the Union Pacific, and others, in opposition to
the proposition to compel the roads to pay the
cost of surveying and selecting lands, thus max
ing the lands taxable by the State.
A subcommittee of the Senate committee on
public lands will probably recommend a number
of radical changes in the homestead law. Among
them, it is proposed to give thehomestead claimant
one year from the date of entering the land to
establish residence, requiring, however, that in
the meantime he shall break and prepare for cul-
t~ivation, a given area of land to establish the
good faith of his profession. Under the existing
laws he is required to go upon the claim and
make it his home within six months OF the date
of entry. 1t is further proposed to admit home
stead claims to final proof and patentonly at the
end of seven years from the date of entry, the
present term being five years. 1t is argued that
to the honest claimant who farms land for his
own use it is of little consequence when he re
ceives a patent, since the entry of the land con
firms him in every right, but selling it, which he
secures by patent.
AS a new feature of the homestead law
and substitute for the timber-culture
law, it is under contemplation to re
quire, within the first four or five years from
the date of entry, that the homestead settler
shall plant a specified small area of land in trees
having previously taken such necessary steps tc
secure thrifty growth as is now required by the
timber-culture act. The reason for grating &
portion of the timber-culture upon the homestead
is found in the fact that, under the former, LAND
fell in the hands of non residents, who had
no interest in the cultivation of trees.
But little attention has yet BEEN given to the
~pre-emption law but there is better reason fol-
expecting radical amendments than its repeal
The chief amendments suggested in
look to the prevention of speculation by requir'
ing that ACCOMPLISHMENTS shall not be accepted
by the local officers; that when accepted by the
commissioner the land shall be open for entry by
the first applicant, and two years actual resi-
aence shall precede the purchase Of the land.