The St. Johns herald., 1888-10-04
COPP'S LAND REVIEW.
FraaduieRt EntrieS-ReSpOnSibili- ty of SettlerS-EfOrtS of Land Department to Prevent.
ysitten for the St. Johns Herald.

eic pIo-SuiI'ti'h IdNi IiiO hiHI N'Oii
 gressional enactment intended tC
 protect the poor man against th'
 rich purchaser, complaints have
 been rife respecting fraudulent land
 entries,
 The homestead, timber-culture
 desert land, and other laws have afforded additional opportunities, for the perpetration of frauds which have not been allowed to pass un- used.
 From every quarter tbe cry of "fraud" is heard in connection with disposals of the public domain; So far as fraudulent entries nnder what are termed settlement laws are concerned, the people of every section have the remedy in their own hands.
 The requirement of title to pub lie land under q fraudulent pre- emption, homestead, timber-cul- ture, or desert-lamd entry, is mat ter ofimpossibility unless the fraud be aided and abetted by persons in the immediate neighborhood.
 Under nearly all of these laws the entryman is required to publish mo- tiee of his intention to make final proof. naming the time when, the place where, and the officer before whom the proof will be submitted. If his entry has been fraudulently initiated, or if he has not compiled with the requirements of the statute governing such cases, his neighbors surely know it, and with very little trouble or expense they can, either before or on the day of making final proof, enter protest against fas issuance of patent on the entry, which will put the government on inquiry, and in nine cases our of ten defeat the attempted fraud. But it seems that the men who are will ing to put themselves to little in convenience for the public good are very scarce, as few if any pro- tests of this kind are filed for the sole purpose of protecting the pub lie domain from spoliation. Atleast seventenths of the protests entered are the result of spite, neighbor- hood quarrcls, or q desire upon the part of the protestant to secure the land himself.
 Robbery of Uncle Sam by taking his lands without giving aE equiv alent does not seem to be consider ed by the mass of the people a very serious offense. Men who would fire guns, ring bells, and rouse the whole country should they detect a thief with his hands in the aa- tional money vaults helping him. self, will, without concern, or smil- Rg over the trick thati is being play ed, witness, the m ission of per- ijurJ' by:three men, and a robbery of the people to the extent of a quar- ter ofsectionof land valued at from $300to $40O.
 Men who are known to have per jured themselves in connection with land claims, either as principal or witness, so that 160 acres or less of land might be stolen from the gov esnment, mingle freely in society and are honored and respected by their fellow men, while the man who steals a horse from his neigh Dor is, by the same community. summarily hanged to the first tree.
 The government has inits employ special agents whose duty it is to investigate fraudulent entries, and the Land Department is making every possible effort to suppress and prevent frauds. Any citizen cognizant of an atttempt to fraud nlently acquire title to land may secure an investigation and bring the offender to justice. by simply re- porting the facts to the Commis- sioner of the General land Office. So long as they fail to do so, frauds