The Delta independent., 1888-10-02

In tho beginning Of this series Of letters
mention is made of what is known as the
Mailman Public Land Bill. and of the bill for
feitiug railroad land grants, and it was stated
that neither would pass both Houses OF Con-
eress at the present session. Subsequently
the fact was announced that bills had been
passed by the House of Representatives, and
the opinion that they would not get through
the Senate was reiterated.
Mr.. Holman seems to have arrived at a
conclusion in harmony with those opinions,
and has adopted very unqsual-not to say
unwise-course with view to securing by
suspensiop the objects he fears will prove un-
stta,nable by the ordinary methods Of repeal
and STRAIGHTFORWARD declarations of forfeit
ure.
On August 2s, he introduced "a Bill to
suspend all laws touching the disposal Of pnh'
lie lands, except the homestead law, ana ior
other purposes, !" by which it is provided that
the uublic lands of the United States shall be
disposed of only under and according to the
provisions of the homestead laws, and that
the communication clause Of those laws shall be
imperative, until the pending legislation af-
f.ctiug such lands shall be disposed of, or un-
ill the present session of Congress shall ad-
iourn: and that any isolated or disconnected
tracts Of public land less than 16O acres may
be sold at prtpats or public sale for not less
than 81 % per acre when in the judgment oil
the Commissioner of the General Land Ofhce
It would be proper to do 80. That during and
after the pendency of measures now before
Congress relative to railroad grant forfeiturss
no act done by any of the grantees shall en-
large their right or claim to any lands COW
cred by the grants, nor shall this provision
he construed to diminish or waive any right
of the United States to declare forfeiture Of
any of the grants.
In a brief letter like this u would be im'
possible to point out all of the errors EN-
braced 10 this proposed law. In the hrst
place it yialstes we'll established legal primer
pies in attempting to accomplish by indi-
rectiou that which has been found impossible
10 do in direct legal manner. Next 1t un-
dertakes to prevent persons who have made
homestead entries from exercising the right
to commute their entries which Is women
safed to them by the laws under which the
entries have been made. II denies to the per-
sons land their sssigps) who for waivers OF
legal rights to valuable lands have accepted
scrip from the government the right to To-
cate such scrip in the manner prescribed by
law an I the terms Of agreements between
them and the government. 1t undertakes to
wipe out of existence that rHle Of law laid
down by the Supreme Court Of the United
States by which contracts with the govern
nent are held to run until legally revoked
by competent authority and to impair the
rights Of citizens Should it be carried into
effect 1t would work incalculable injury to
the northwest, and interfere with private
rights in every public land State and Terri
tory in the Union.
1t would stop proceeding towards complet-
ips~ayery entry that has been initiated Snder
any other than the homestead Law, and prob
ably cause the suspension of work on every
line OF uncompleted land grant railroad. The
Commissioner, in the report which he will
probably be called upon to make upon this
bill should enphatieally disapprovs IFS en-
sctment into law.
HENRY N. CoPP.