The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-06-18
W1A11xa LAND Laws,
ne 1rs.snptien. Timber Culture and
desert Law Repeal Bill Passes the.
aeuse By Vote Of 1e3to A0.-WIl Prob.
ably Pass the Ssnass.

me xfosoApaoA, Timber Culture and
Desert Law Repeal Bill Passes the.
aeuss By . Vote Of 1e3to Ao.-WiM Prob.
ably Pass the Ssnats.
a, The house bill providing for the repeal Of
tne Pre-snption. timber culture and desert
!and laws passed the house by Q vote OF 1S3
to 40. The bill was called up under q sus.
pension OF rules by Chairman Cobb, Of the
COMMITTEES ON public lands. and its pr0vis.
ions explained by him. Nelson Of Mime
He regretted that the chairman Of the
land committs should have attempted to
pass this bill under q suspension OF tho
rules. Only fifteen minutes was allowed
for deba to on one Of the most important
measures that has yet come before the
house. He did not believe that the house
could be made to understand the import
ance OF this measure, which repealed laws
that had stood upon the statute books
Payson Of Illinois was especially bitt.r
against the laws which it was proposed to
repeal. and his five minutes advocacy Of
the bill had much to do with tho weakness
Of the opposition. He said:
Inc bill had In substance already passed
both houses, and for four years had been
recommended by succeeding commission.
ere OF the general land Office aud two secre.
taries Of the treasury. The necessity for
tho repeal was found in the report of the
frauds which had been committed upon tie
public domain had been due to the existence
OF these laws. The change In the law could
not opprsss settlers greatly, as It allowed
communication OF the homestead en-
tered entries raising, however, the
probationary period from six to thirty
months. You could not take up report
Of commissioner OF the general land
Office Tor the past four years without find.
government, extending in single cases An
high as 5000 acres Of land. lie himself
knew OF G, 900 acres OF land being taken by
one person, the Earl OF Dunruven, under
the presumption act, and reports Of special
agents showed that over hall Q million
acres had in one case been secured by spec-
ulators. Tho commissioner has hut twen.
ty.thres special agents at his disposal, and
yet no WAS able to prove that In the last
under these laws were fictitious and fraud
ulent.
Mr.. Weaver (Iowa) stated:
he supported the bill simply because IL
cut from our public land system the iden
OF speculation, and that was the one thing
necessary II our deserving classes were to
have the advantages Of the public domain
lett at their disposal.
Mr.. Perkins (Kan.) maintained:
The bill was essentially q measure
In the interest Of railroads that had
land to sell, az it left the public
no opportunity OF securing land OK.
cept through tho operation Of the home.
stead laws or to purchase from the rail.
road companies. After the repeal OF ali
these laws. the act under which these frauds
had been committed was still in force.
namely, the homestead Communication act.
1t was true the latter act had been amend.
ed, but why could not all these laws be
amended 90 % to prevent fraud. In the
judgment OF the people OF the West. these
laws did not demand such peremptory ac.
tion to guard the govsrumeht against
fraud.
O'Neill OF Missouri, McAdoo of New
Jersey and Springer OF Illinois made short
speeches in favor Of the bill and Mr.. Cobb
closed the debate, after which the bill
passed as stated. The bill has, in differ.
snt form, already passed the senate ut an
other session. and one Of tho same
character has been reported by the senate
land committee and endorsed by the sen.
ate Republican caucus, SO there is no doubt
Of ito becoming law.