The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-05
FnITORIAL NOTES.

Commissioner GrOfs dispatch announcing that
the timber culture aud presumption laws have
been repealed, and TO allow no further entries
hereunder, Is In accordance with the measure
adopted in the closing huuts of the Ffty-hrSt
Congress. For some years the Senate and House
have been unable TO agree on plan Of remodel
ing the land laws. The conIerees who
recently had the matter under consideration
agreed upon a bill that materially changes the
land laws. Ii repealed the Timber Culture Act,
but With reservation In ftyor OF bOna-nde
claims already Initiated. The preparation OF
land and the planting Ofrrees were construed as
acts of cultivation. Those complying with the
provisions of the Timber Cultule Act for four
years may prove UP their claims by the payment
OF s 25-an aese. The Desert Land Act was
amended by requiring the filing of q map show
ing the proposed method Of reclamation. and
none shall receive patents for land under the act
unless there has been expended at least So per
acre, 81 to be expended each, year. After four
years a title may be secured-On the payment OF
81 an acre. Section 22SS of The Revised Statutes
was amended SO that 4 bona-hde settler could
make transfers for the right OF way
for irrigation. purposes, as well as for church,
cemetery, railroad or school purposes. The
pre-emption law was also repealed, except as to
claims already Initiated. Section 2259 was
amended so that holders OF 100 acres Of land, or
who had abandoned their residence on JbeIr own
land. shall nos have the right 10 make Homestead
tana Indian Territory Sou Dakota and WyO-
ming. and the gold and silver regions of Nevada
and Utah, 1t should be sufficient defense In any
prosecution for tfespass to show that the timber
cut was for agricultural, mining. manufacturing or
domestic purposes, and was not transported out
OF tie State; this provision, however, does not
.incude aroads. Ia Alaska, provision is made
for TOWNSHIP entries aud for the acquisition of lands
needed for trade or. manufacturing purposes.
Towns and ciIes may make townsite entries on
mineral lands, but they shall not Interfere with
the working OF mineral claims. Provision was
made for grants OF right OF way FOR irrigation
purposes. but reservoir sites are not to contain
any more land thau necessary. The maximum
amount Of land any person may acquire was lin
tied 10 800 acres. Another provision authorized
the President 20 reserve forest lands in any Ter
Iitory as public reservations, thereby meeting
the principal aim of what was known as the yell
lowstone Park Bill
This DAY viii be a memorable one in Canada.
OF the Premier who demands popular approval
of his policy, it Is said: His pathway through
life is srrewu with political corpses. Successive
generations OF politicians have met their fate,
but the aged Premier still hangs on to power.
1t is the height OF his ambition To complete three
YET mere In office, when he hopes to celebrate
his political jubilee" The Quebec Telegraph OH
the other hand thus sums up the cry OF The Op-
|. position: whatever be the result Of the pend.
Ing election, the growing discomfort OF Canada
under present conditions must force a practical
solution. Canada has no national life The peO-
pie are getting impatient OF British control.
There is an alternating clamor for national indie
pendeuce. IL is tie ouly solution natural.
Canadians and Americans have the same
interests. The country belongs 10 the same
continent The boundary of separation is an
imaginary line. No gulf sunders the one land
from The othef nationally. commercially, socially
or leligI0usly."
Among the measures OF great national i'm
pOrtance enacted by the kify-frst Congress
were the new tariff aud that increasing the Gov
ernmenPs purchases OF silver TO 100000
per month. The measures of less Importance ill.,
cuded tile Postal Subsidy, Copyright, Private
Land Court, Timber Culture and Presumption
Repeal Law, Customs Administration, General
Land Forfeiture intermediate Courts OF Appeal,
Worlds Fair Wyoming aud Idaho Admission,
AntLottery, Anti Trust, ReapportiOnment. Immi-
grafton aad Mississippi River Improvement bills.
The Nicaragua Canal and Pacific Railroad Fund
ing bills were among those That failed to secured
Endorsement OF the l4.033 bills introduced in
the House and 5129 in the S.naie only 2lS6 be-
came laws. against record Of 1924 for The Fiji
IieIn Congress.
/ The two great railroads OF our northern neigh
/ Dor, the Canadian Pacific and Grand Trunk.
WELD enormous Influence and lie iatimatiou that
If they pooled their issues they could carry The
election in favor Of either party that they see III
to favor is apparently sustained by the Montreal
dispatch TO the effect tnat sensational dsclos-
ures have been made from an 'unuuestlonable
source" that the Canadian Pacific taking adyan-
tage OF the situation had forced an "amcable
adjustment" Of the differences existing between
the company aud the Government While it is
barely possible that The report is only a cam
paign canard the power that these roads possess
in matters ofeglslallOn aud elections is certainly
one that Is not usually exerted TO the advantage
OF tile people.
The experience Of ex-Empress Eugene grows
more bitter with advancing years. The revolt.
Ing death Of her sou, the eX-Prince Imperial.
filled her cup OF sorrow 10 the brim. 1t is now
said that in consequence of unlucky speculations
on the stock exchange she Is about TO sell the
celebrated chateau d'AreDenberg In Switzerland.