The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1890-01-29
rnE TOWNSHIP BILL

p,,v,.,ous of the Oklahoma Townsite BIZ
~ Amended and Passed BY the House.
WASHINGTON, Jan. sS.-The House
Yesterday concluded the consideration
of the Oklahoma Townsite bill In Com
mittee of the Whole, reported It to the
House and at once passed it. The third
section, which was the only one in dis
pute as agreed to in committee, was as
follows:
Sec q. That in all cases where townsites
are entered under the provisions OF TINS acs
for the use of the occupants thereof, 1t snail
be the duty of the commissioners so entering
such sites to hear and determine all contro-
versies arising between claimants to any
part thereof or to any lot therein. and to
convey the same to the occupants or fnhab-
itants thereof according to their respective
interests. That the Secretary OF the Interior
shall prescribe rules and regulations thas
shall govern said commissioners in exc
cutting the trust imposed BY this act
and shall direct how and to whom
deeds shall be made except as restricted
herein and any actual settler upon any one
lot and upon any additional lot upon which
he may have substantial improvements shall
be entitled to prove up and purchase the
same as q presumption at such minimum
price as may be fixed by the Secretary OF the
Interior provided that any person not
legally disqualified from entering lands un-
der this act shall have the right to purchase.
at the minimum price, any lot or lots they
have heretofore purchased from legal occu-
pants and upon which substantial improve
ments have been made; provided that the
claim for tOwnsite or any part thereof or
to any lot therein II made by q United States
marshal, deputy marshal or other officer or
agent of the United States who was in said
Territory prior to the time fixed for entering
thereof by the proclamation of the Presi-
dent, or II made by q person who entered
said Territory or took possession of such
townsite or part thereof or lot therein, In
advance of the time fixed or'entering said
Territory by the proclamation OF the Presi-
dent. and in violation thereof. shall be
deemed and held invalid. nor shall the claim
of any person or his assignee be valid when
such person, being lawfully within the Ter
ritory prior to the day fixed by the Presi.
dents proclamation for entering said Terri
tory, did during such time select town.
site lot or lots therein upon which
he, after the time fixed by the prOclama-
ton, filed his claim, and the assignee or ven
dee of such officer or wrOngdOer shall Sc
cure no title by purchase of assignment
therefrom, but where purchases have been
made from such officers or wrOngdOers by
innocent parties and in good faith, their
rights as occupying claimants shall be re-
spected by said commissioners and the val
uatiOn of improvements made by them in
good faith shall be a valid lien on the lot or
lots SO purchased and occupied. The several
commissioners shall keep a record OF their
proceedings as to each TOWNSHIP, which
record shall on the termination of their
labors be placed in the custody of the
Secretary of the Interior; and when county
organizations shall be effected in the Terri
tory the said records shall be placed in Gus
tody of the officer having charge of the real
estate records of the county in which such
town is situated and such record Tor due ex-
emplihcation thereby of the commissioner
shall be evidence of the facts recited therein
provided that any party having mortgage
or other bon ABIDE lien upon a lot or lots
decided by the commissioners as provided
herein, shall have the right to have the same
recorded at length in the record kept by said
commissioners, and such record shall be full
notice to all of the character and amount of
said lien or mortgage, and of the equities
and rights of the parties therein.