Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-01-15

The Prsposea Changes In she Ind
Laws.

The Proposed Changes In the Ind
LAws.
WAsHIxoroS. Jan. I3.-The bin 70 re-
peal toe pye-emptiou, desert land and
timber culture laws and 10 amend the
homestead iaw has passed the Senate,
he arst section provides for the repeal
of the pre- -enPsion law. This repeal,
hosever. u not 10 affect the rights of
any person which are accYuing on the
passage Of the act. IL further provides
toas any person who has not heretofore
nsd tne beneft OF the pFe-emption Law,
and who has failed from any eanse TO
perfect tbe title 10 land heretofore en-
tsred oy him uLder the homestead Law,
may make second homestead in lieu
OF his pre-emptiOn privilege, which 10
Fer eaied.
Section Two repeais the timber culture
lsV WITH the prUviso that 10 shall not
interfere with existing rights.
Section three amends the revised
statutes 20 that persous who have
svailed themselves of the homestead
law may pay the minimum price Of
lands after eighteen months from date
OF entry, provided they file q pfelimi-
nary notice SIX months before.
Section four repeats the desert land
act, except as to claims which exist at
the date of the passage of the act.
Section fve provides that no public
lands except abandoned military or
other reservations, mineral laRds and
other lands, the sale of which has been
authorized by special act of Congress.
shall be sold st public auction or by
special private entry. All offered pub
lie lands are withdrawn frop, the mar
ket and shall be disposed of as unofered
public lands-
Senator Dolph, in the report accom-
panying the bill, says: Under the pres
ent laws any person can acquire title TO
$50 acres under the pre-emption and
homestead and timber cuItare acts. or
40 scres in ali. The COMMITTEES is of
opinion that the time has come TO limit
the requirement Of government land ky
one person TO l60 acres. Another reason
for the repeal of the pre-emption law is
the alarming increase of fraudulent
claims under ii. Lately, the report
says, 10 has been charged that this fault
was IN the execution of the law, but the
committee is of opinion that the law
contains such inherent defects that
fraudulent entry cannot be wholly pre-
vented. The increase in fraudulent en-
tries, in its opinion, 10 due 10 tie in
crease IN value Of the lands, under the
consequent inducements offered for
evasion Of the Law. The repeal Of the
timber c1lture Law Is recommended be-
cause it has proved failure. The re-
port continses, "Experieuee has demon
ssrate0 that the desert land act, instead
Of securing the settlement and reclsms-
tion OF desert lands by actual settlers,
has been made the means of securing
fraudulent title to agricultural lands.
There Is rapidly growing sentiment in
this country for she repe 4 Of all laws
providing for the disposal of asricultu-
raj public lands. except the homestead
Law, 10 order that the public domain
shall hereafter be reserved fer homes
fer settlers The committee is of the
opinion that this sheald be the future
policy Of the government. Even IL
settlers are restricted to l60 acres of
land. II will be but comparatively a few
years before all public lands suitable for
/ ones shall be exhausted" In oen-
clusion the report says, The practical
exhaustion Of our public domain will
force upon the attention Of the people
OF this country new. important and
difficult Questions, and in the opinion
of the committee, the time when our
rapidly increasing population, instead
OF being able 70 take up homesteads on |
the public lands and make homes for |
themselves. shall be compelled 10 and
hemes II our overcrowded cities, should
by wise legislation be postponed as long
as possible"