The record-union., 1891-01-12
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
The Senate Passes a Bill in Aid
of Settlers.
BELIEF THAT THE SILVER BILL WILL
BECOME A Law.
The outlool. for the Passage of the
Irrigation Measure Very Discour-
aging-Eills which VIII Probably
Be Acted Upon by Congress the
Present Week.
Special to the REcoRD-US1oS.

WASHINGTON, Jan. u.--Secretary No
ble's letter to Congress in submitting the
| recommendations of Land Commissioner
Graft, is OF the greatest importance to
! thousands OF the settlers in California.
Under the Land Forfeiture Act, passed
last September, over three million acres
Of Southern Pacific land was forfeited.
Commissioner Groff-s letter to Congress
is as follows:
SIN the matter OF the forfeiture of grants
made by Congress 30 aid in the consruc-
ticn OF railroads opposite TO and co-ter-
minous with the portions OF any such
railroads not constructed and in opera
ton on September %, 1880, the date Of the
passage OF The Act, have 10 call attention
10 the fact that the periods limited by the
Act for the requirement Of the rights by
| settlers, purchasers ard others, all run
| from the date OF the passage OF the Act.
| In the case OF settlers rights, six months
| from the date OF the passage of the Act is
| the period limited by the Act, and rs
| about three, months have now expired,
! and, even were action taken at once,
more than six weeks more would be
necessary before the lands determined
| upon could be actually opened to entry,
4 it is apparent that the time that will re-
main OF the six months after the actual
/ operation will be but little, perhaps a
month, or even less"
''In some cases, where the forfeiture is
| being resisted by the companies. it would
! Be difficult to state when the matter Will
| be finally determined, and / have there
! fore to recommend, in view of the numer-
GUS complications that have arisen and
| the tine that must necessarily be con-
suued in q proper consideration of the
claims of all parties presented before a
! final conclusion III She matter can be
| reached, that the attention of Congress be
called to the matter, and, if possible, such
! legislation be secured to the end that said
! Act may be so amended that the periods
| fixed within which the rights granted
may be asserted shall begin to run from
the actual restoration of the lands under
the Act, and not from the date of the pas
sage Of the Act. In this way all matters
! presented can be fully considered, and
the rights intended to be given by Con-
/ eress can be made available to the parties
/ Interested"
In transmitting Grofirs letter, Secretary
Noble'says: Relieving as / do, that by
such amendment the Interests Of those
coming within the provisions of said Act
would be more fully protected and the
ends intended by said Act more surely
attained. heartily join ia the recon-
mendation OF the Commissioners
In response to these communications,
Senator Dolph promptly introduced, and
! the Senate yesterday passed, a bill carry
! ing out the recommendations presented
above. The House will probably do like
wise next week. This viii have the eff
feet OF relieving the Land Department
settlers Of the complications arising out
OF the passage Of The Land Forfeiture Act.