Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-06-14
PETITION ITS REPEAL,

Sk1IA1ON
 Some two weeks since the CITIZEN re- ceived 6 circular letter appertaining to the stupid and laundering law passed by tue last democratic congress with drawing public lands within the so .cal- led arid belt of the west from settle ment and entry. At this time it was known that said act had been submit ted to the Attorney General for his inter petation; which, has since been rendered, said decision realizing and verifying our worst fears as to the withdrawal of the lands in question. Not only does the law do this. but it cancels every entry made since the day said act was signed by Cleveland and became a law. The Interior Department has wisely submit ted the law to Congress and requested an interpretation thereon. Now, while this matter is again before its origlnators for consideration, it behooves every friend of the Territory to work with his whole soul for its repealment. That none may be deceived as to the sweep ing provisions of the law as it now stands, We publish in full the following facts set tersely forth in the circular re ferred. He who runs may read; the safety and prosperity of the Territory lies in the total and absolute repeal ment of the outrageous and obnoxious law:
 Upon every entry, without exception of government land in the arid regions made since October ?, 1888, patents have been ordered by the general land office to be withheld. The secretary of the inte rior and attorney general have been ask ed to construs the act of October ?, 1888, withdrawing lands from entry, and to define the arid regions"
 Should they decide that all lands in the arid reglons were segregated by this act, and all lands requiring irrigation for their reclamation 10 the arid lands, then not an acre of such land in the great west entered since October 2, 1888, can be patented, and such entries, without unseen relief, will be canceled.
 Tens of thousands of acres on exist ing irrigating canals, actually being cul tivated and reclaimed by water from from such canals, can not now be patented because entered since October 2, 1888 Thousands of bona fde settlers in Cali forLia, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colo rsdo, Nevada, and throughout the entire surrounding region, have been a lowed to enter government lands, arc complying with the law as they suppose it to be, and..as it has existed, are getting water from constructed irrigating canals are honest, hardworking settlers, buI who would to-day be denled patent for that same land, and are conscious of tho fact.
 Congress has passed law its own officers do not understand, and since October, ?, 1888, have been allowing hundreds and thousands of honest set tiers and entrymen to be unwittlngly led into the entry of government lanC upon which time and money is being expended and where to-day nothing stands between these settlers and ruin. but favorable construction of this law by the secretary Of the interior. Mil lions of dollars are being expended b! private capital in construction of canals and to reclaim arid lands, and this act of October 2, 1888 would forbid thelr re clamatlon, or that an acre of this gov ernment land be touched since that date, and that these canals be rendered useless.
 It cannot be said that settlers should have known the possible construction O. the law, for not local land office, the presumabIe representatives of the gov ernment, but is allowed entries of ldno to-day upon constructed irrigating ra- nals, where reservoir sites, ditches Ui canals have not been surveyed and St! apart by the geological survey. Thus. since October 2, 1888, have entrymen been led to telieve the government fully understand the effect of that act, anC that their entries were allowed accord ingly.
 It is said that in the passage of thie act in October ?, 1888, entitled An act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the government for the lis cal year ending June 90, 1889, and for other purposes" which act reserves from entry, settlement or occupation certain public lands. the conference committee did not intend to prevent aId prohibit the entry and reclamation of lands adjacent to con structed irrigating canals or those in process of construction, but that they did overlook the fact that the broad wording of the act would have a wide-reaching and disastrous effect not intended or desired by it's projectors.
 Let the people move solidly for its repeal.
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