Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-09-24
LAND REVIEW.
Fraudulent Entries- Responsibility oil
Settlers-Ef1or,s Of Land Department
to Prevent.

Settlers-Ei1or,s Of Land Department
to Prevent.
Almost ever since the passage of
the presumption law, the Congress
ional enactment intended to protect
the poor man against the rich pur.
chaser, and to secure homes for actual
settlers, complaints have been rife
respecting fraudulent land entries.
The homestead, timber culture,
desert.land, and other laws have af-
forded additional opportunities for
the preparation of frauds which have
not been allowed to pass unused.
From every quarter the cry of
"fraud" is beard in connection with
disposals of the public domain. So
far as fraudulent entries under what
are termed settlement laws are con.
cerned, the people of every section
have the remedy in their own hands
The requirement of title to public
land under fraudulent pre-empt;or,
homestead, timber culture, or desert
land entry, is a matter of impossible
ity unless the transaction be winked
at and the perpetrator of the fraud be
aided and abetted by persons in the
immediate neighborhood.
Under nearly all of these laws the
entryman is required to publish notice
Of his intention to make 6nal proof,
naming the time when, the place
where, and the officer before whom
the proof will be submitted. If bis
entry has been fraudulently initiated,
or if he has not complied with the
requirements of the statute govern.
ing 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, en-
ter protest against the issuance OF
patent on the entry, which will pu,
the government on inquiry, and in
nine cases out Of ten defeat the at.
tempted fraud. But it seems that
the men who are willing to put them
selves to a little Inconvenience for
the public good are very scarce, as
few if any protests of this kind are
fled for the sole purpose of protecting
the public domain from spoliation
At least seven tenths OF the protests
entered are the result of spite, neigh
borhood quarrels, or desire upon the
part of the protestant to secure thu
land himself.
Robbery of Uncle Sam by taking
his lands without gising an equiva
lent does not seem TO be considered
by the mass Of the people yer.
serious otfense. Men who would fir
guns, ring bells, and rouse the Who'll
country should they detect a THE
with his hands in the natioral none
vaults helping himself, will, withou
concern, or smiling over the trick tina
is being played, witness the commits
sion of perjury by three men, and
robbery Of the people to the extent {
a quarter of a section of land value
at from $500 to s4OO.
Men who are known to have pei
jured themselves in connection wit
land claims, either as principal G
witness, so that 16O acres or less {
land might be stolen from the govern
ment, minsle freely in society an
are honored and respected by the
fellow men, while the man who stea
a horse from his neighbor is, by tn
same community, summary hange
to the first tree.
Any citizen cognizant Of an a
. tempt to frauduleptly acquire title I
land may secure an investigation an
> bring the offender to justice, b
3, simply reporting the facts to tn
Com missioner of the General Ian
Office. So long as they fail to do St
0 frauds will continue to be perpetra
ed, and the people must take II
blame. HENRY N. COPP.