The sun., 1894-03-15
OPENING INDI1N LANDS
suegsstiou. OF Different Method. for Award.
ing Horestesd. on Them.

WASHINGTON. March 1.-THE staten ent that
. large number OF settlers who entered the
Cherokee Strip at its opening have been
evicted on account OF proof that they started
In the race before the time fixed Is q striking
instance Of the primitive character OF our sys-
tenn OF opening Indian reservations. Beating
the pistol" 10 q trick we'll known and Justly
reprobsted In athletic contests. but in this case
the trouble Is said to be different the gun hav-
ing been fred fifteen minutes ahead OF the
prescribed time OF dischsrGing It. IL Ia re-
ported that while noon was the time fixed for
the Simultaneous rush across the border at
one station the man whose duty 1t was to fire
the starting gun was hired to do SO at q quar-
ter OF twelve by some persons who believed
the advantage thereby to be gained would
repay the coat OF accomplishing this fraud.
Fair play and an even start for all are at the
basis OF this mode OF dlsposing OF lands so that
the annulling OF homestead claims secured
by a fraudulent start Is simple Justice
And ret It is clear that. II the affair has been
correctly reported. the cupidity OF . few ras-
calls may have involved many honest people.
II 10 not to be supposed that il the gun was
fred before the time By deliberate fraud more
than a few persons were engaged In its per-
petrstion. The remainder felt actually COM
very means agreed upon for determining the
time to start Perhaps. however. the de.
ssSs the nu%Ssr OF Ap psrsons Ts whose
Sn when the interior Department has based
BE this as It may. the question is suggested
whsther there is not some better method OF
reservations to settlement than a mad rush.
AZ least one proposition has been made to
possible By raduating the prices to the char
aeter Of the land sold to effect some improve.
fact that where atlas laid out tha
os ss mSsh
another difficulty. namely. that the pioneers
themselves seem 20 enjoy the element OF luck
energy. GI worth more than the the Government nj
tion that they are willing to run the other risk
Of getting & 2 less valuable lot than they had
abandon their choice. as so many In fact do.
and try smother plan: There is also strong
the 1sh h'f iesss sd no' . Suttns
es 5sh nS Sa 70 da tb.
things being equal gets there first. A'' ''A''
one m ,thod Of disposing OF lands, once sug:
anG By o B ntS
Congress Tor the purpose. 70 govern alt cases
opened for hon estead laws on a liked day. pro.
vides that the Interior Department is to draw
Of succession In which competing appiicants
shall be permitted TO present their applica-
tions." awarding the right to enter a tract or
hlinR therefor. as the case may be under ex-
listing laws. to the one who comes out first in
the lot. provided he 10 properly qualified. The
applicant iced not be personally present but
may be represented by an agent, Just as a de-
clAratory statement may now bo III led In taking
n homestead. But he must go personally
to the land itself within sixty days and make
his homo there, also etfecting the prescribed
entry at the district office In order to make
bill that the lots not so disposed Of should be.
after certain time. purchasAble In the GUS
tomary way One objection to such a system
might be based on the ground that the lottery
principle ought not to be encouraged by the
Government. Still. the objection ON moral
grounds can hardly be great when every man
10 considered to receive full value. and tho lot
Is really only the order OF choice in picking
out what each man thinks m ost desirable.
Another proposition that OF auction. or OF
awarding a lot to the man who will pay the
highest premium for IL above q fixed price. IL
perhaps the most bpsinesslike arrangement.
Government: but II would be very far from
popular inAsmuch as the men OF means would
have an advantage. Accordingly il has been
suggested as . suppleme ent to this plan, that
all premiums should become a public fund
to be devoted to certain purposes which would
otherwise have to be fulfilled by taxes. The
practical result would thus DO to give the man
who had the poorest land q compen sation in
lighter taxes. This idea 10 certainly ingen-
ious. but at present there appears to be no
sign that either this proposal or that OF selling
by lot will take the place Of the existing sys-
TEN. even with its admitted drawbacks