Arizona republican., 1891-03-20
THE LAND COuRT ACT.

The Land Court bill as passed and approved provides for Chief Justice and four Associate Justices at salaries of five thousand each. In the filling of these places the residents of Territories are excluded, it being especially pro vided in the act that the appointecs shall be residents of States.
 The act provides for United States marshals to attend the sessions of the court in person or by deputy, and pro- vides the appointment of an attorney to represent the United States, who must also be resident of State. The com pensation of the attorney is fixed at $S500.
 The law makes it the duty of the Commissioner of the General Land office, the surveyors general of such Territories and States, or the keeper of any public records who may have possession of any records and papers relating to any land grants, or claims for land within said States and Territories in relation to which any petition shall be brought un- der this act on the application of any person interested, or by the attorney of the United States, to safely transmit such records and papers to said court, or to attend in person or by deputy, any session thereof when required by said court, and produce such records and papers.
 The court has jurisdiction over land grant cases in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Colorado and Wyoming.
 The act of the court, where it finds title to be valid, always excepts such land as has been disposed of by the United States and is not to affect any conflicting private interest, rights or claims held or claimed adversely. The action of the court simply has the effect to release all claim of title by the United States and leaves the grant claimants and adverse claims to fight it out in the local courts. Appeals lie to the United States Supreme Court. When the decision of confirmation shall become final, the Suryeyor-General shall make survey of the boundaries, and when the same is returned to his office he shall give notice that the survey is made by publication once week for four con secutive weeks in two newspapers, one published at the capital and the other published near the land so surveyed. The Surveyor-General shall retain such survey and plat in his office for public inspection for the full period of ninety days from the date of the first publication of notice in the newspaper. fiat the expi- ration of such period no objection to such survey shall have been filed with him, he shall approve the same and forward it to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. If within the period of ninety days objections are made to said survey, such objection shall be reduced to writing, stating distinctly the interest of the objector and the grounds of his objection. At the expiration of ninety days he shall forward such survey to the land office with the objections and his report thereon. The Commissioner of the Land Office submits the survey to the land court with the objections. After the said court approves the survey as correct, the Commissioner of the Land Office causes patent to issue to the con firmee. ODe-half of the expenses of sur vey, etc., must be borne by confirmee and shall be lien on the land.
 The act provides statute of limita- tion, barring all claims.not presented to the land court within two years.
 The court expires by limitation on December 3l, 1895.