St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-14
the pre-em utiop privilege which is ro-

of the pre-emption privilege which is re-
pealed. Section 9 repeals the tim
Der culture law, with the pro-
viso that 1t shall not Interfere
with existing rights. Section three amends
the revised statutes 80 that persons who have
availed themselves Of the homestead laws
may pay the minimum price for the lands
after eighteen months from the day Of entry,
provided they file preliminary notice six
months before. Section four repeals the
desert land act, except as to claims which
exist at the date of the passage of the act.
Section five provides that no public lands
except abandoned military OF other reserva-
tious, mineral lands aud other lands, the
sale Of which has been authorized by special
act Of congress. shall be sold az public
auction or by special private entry. All
offered public lands are withdrawn from the
market and shall be disposed Of as unoffered
public lands
Senator Dolph in his report accompanying
the bill says that under the present laws any
person can acquire title to 100 acres each un-
der the presumption, homestead and timber
culture acts, or $50 acres in all. The COM
mittee Is oil the opinion that the time has
come to limit the requirement Of govern
ment land by one person to l60 acres An
other reason for the repeal OF the pre-ernp-
tion law is the alarming increase of fraudu-
lent claims under it lately. Tue report says
it has been charged that this fault was in the
execution of the law. but the ommittee is Of
the opinion that the Law contains such In he
rent defects that fraudulent entry cannot be
wholly prevented. The increase OF fraudu-
lent entries, in its opinion, is due to the in
creased value of lands and consequent
of
the law. Tue repeal of the timber culture
law is recommended because it has proved q
failure. The report continues:
Experience has demonstrated that the
desert land act, instead of securing the settle
ment and reclamation of desert lands by
actual settlers, has been made a means of
securing fraudulent titles to agricultural
lands. There is rapidly growing sentiment
in this country for the repeal OF all laws pro-
vding for the disposal of agricultural public
lands except the homestead law, and that
the public domain shall hereafter be reserved
for homes for settlers. The committee is of
the opinion that this should be the future
policy OF the government. Even if settlers
are restricted to 100 acres Of land, itayill be
but mparatively few years before all the
public lands suitable for homes will be ex-
hausted.''
In conclusion the report says: "Practical
exhaustion of our public domain will force
upon the attention of the people of this
country new, important and difficult ques-
tious and, in the opinion of this com mittee,
the time when our rapidly increasing popu-
lation, instead of being able to take up
homesteads on public lands and make homes
for themselves, shall be compelled to find
homes in our overcrowded cities, should by
wise legislation be postponed as long as pos
sible.''
TO FACILITATE PENSION BUSINESS.
The house committee on pensions, bounty
and back pay to-day heard Commissioner Of
Pensions Clark on the advisability of ap-
pointing state pension agents to represent
claimants in each state. The commissioner
was present at the request Of the committee.
He thought such appointments would greatly
facilitate the business of the Office.
Frequently the pension Office had been
coInp PEELED to write as many rs seven letters
4 day, to as MANY congressman who had
inquired about the same case. Between
December { and ~ last the office answered
about s, 900 letters from congressman. Much
delay in the business OF the Office Is occa-
stoned by different members of congress
calling up the same case. The views of the
commissioner were obtained with the purpose
Of securing legislation, If possible, to facili-
tate The business of the pension bureau.