The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-02-29
CoNcERNINe pUBLIc LANDS.
4 Bill Extending the Time In Which Suit
May Be Brought to Forfeit Land



e May Be Brought to Forfeit Land
Grants.
Following is the bill prepared by tn,
house committee on public lands, il
: compliance with the recommendation,
OF the president and secretary of inter
ior, affecting the forfeiture of lane
grants. The bill, however, was
amended in the senate, reducing the
time from five years to one year in
which suit may be brought. This
amendment was concurred in by the
house yesterday:
"Be it enacted by the senate and
house OF representatives of the United
States of America in congress as
sembled, That suits by the United
States to vacate and annul any patent
to lands heretofore enormously issued
under a special grant shall only be
, brought within five years from the
passage Of this act, and suits 70 vacate
and annul patents hereafter issued
shall only be brought within ten years
after the date of the issuance Of such
patents. But no patent to any lands
held by bona fde purchaser shall be
vacated or annulled, but the right and
title of such purchaser is hereby con-
firmed.
'Sec. 2. That if any person claiming
to be bona fde purchaser of any
lands enormously patented or certified
shalt present his claim to the sacre-
tary of the interior prior to the insti-
tuition OF a suit to cancel patent or
certifcatiou. and If 1t shall appear that
he is bona fide purchaser, the secre-
tary OF the Interior shall request that
suit be brought in such case against
the patentee, or the corporation, COM
pany, person, or association of persons,
for whose benefit the certifcation was
made, for the value of said land, which
in no case shall be less than minimum
government price thereof, nor more
than the amount paid by the purchaser
to the original grantee of the United |
States, and the title OF such claimant |
shall stand confirmed. An adverse de- |
cision by the secretary of the interior
on the bona fide of such claimant shall !
not be conclusive of his rights, and if |
claimant, or one claiming to be bona
fide purchaser, but who has not sub
mitted his claim to the secretary of
the interior, is made party to such
suit, and if found by the court to be a
bona fde purchaser, the court shall
decree confirmation of the title, and
shall render decree in behalf of the
United States for the value of the land
IS hereinbefore provided. Any bona
fide purchaser of lands patented or
certified to railroad company, and
who is not made party of such suit
and who has not submitted his claim
to the secretary of The interior,) may
establish his right as such bona fde
purchaser in any United States court
having Jurisdiction of the subject-mat-
Ter, or at his option as prescribed in
sections three and four OF chapter
,hree hundred and seventy-six of the ,
lets of the second session of the forty
ninth congress.
''Sec. 3. If at any time prior to the
Institution ofsuit by the Attorney.Gen-@
,ral to cancel any patent or certlfica- .
ion of lands enormously patented or r
claim of statement Ia pre-
'ented to the secretary of the interior
'y or on behalf Of any person or per-
ons, corporation. or corporations, is
BONA fide purchaser, or are bona fide
of any patented or certified
and, ny deed or contract, or otherwise
rom or through the original patentee a
n corporation to which patent or cer-
iacation was issued, no suit or action Q
hall be brought to cancel or annul- the
'atent or certifcation for said land un- 9
il such claim is Investigated in said
department. OF the interior; and if it t
hall appear that such person or corpo-
alton is bona fde purchaser afore-
aid, or that such persons or corpora
ions are such bona fide purchasers,
hen no such suit shall be instituted,
nd the title Of such claimant or claim. !
nts shall stand confirmed; but the
ecretary of the interior shall request
hat suit be brought in such case
gainst the patentee, or tho corpora t
ion, company, person, or association !
I persons, for whose benefit the {
atent was issued or certifcation was a
lade, for the value of the land as here Il
ntofore specified" I