The times., 1899-10-27
WORK o. 80 LANp oFr1cE
Commissioner Hermann submits the
ANNUAL Report oE III. nnrcnn.


The annual report OF Binger Hermann.
Commissioner OF the General Land once.
was presented to the Secretary of che In
terror yesterday. Among other things. it
provides the following recommendati5Gs.
For the compulsory attendance OF Wit
nesses at hearings in contested land cases
before the local land officers. That legis,a-
tinn be asked FOR amending section 1850.
T. s. Revised Statutes so as 60 pre-
ven. the mining and sale OF coal during the
lifetime OF a coal decIaratory statement or
until fun payment is made for the land.
That the limits Of the Mount Rainier Ma
tional Park in the State Of washington.
as established by act Of Congress approved
March ?. 1889. be changed and enlarged.
For the extension Of the Yellowstone Ma
tiOnal Park
That legislation be asked for amending
/ me act Of Juae =, 1897 so that the period
Tor the publication OF notice of sale Of tim
Der ana the localities where publication
snould be made be left ia the discretion OF
I the Commissioner Of the General Land or
I nee That the sum of $500 900 be aDpro-
priated for the expenses. during the fiscal
year ending June 90 1901. for the forest
service in connection with the creation and
administration Of forest reservations.
Ine enactment Of law Jhlt shall en-
power forest officers. special agents and
other officers having authority IN relation
10 the protection OF public lands and the
timber thereon. 10 make arrests. without
process in hand, for the violation o. the
laws or rules and regulations Te'aung to
the forest reserves or other forest lands
Of the United States
THAT the provisions Of the act Of Feb
ruary 2S, 1889 be expanded TO authorize
the Secretary OF the Interior to rent or
lease lands within forest reservations for
any purpose not Incompatible with the
purposes for which such reservations are
created That early legislative provision
be made for the entry Of lands within for
est reservations which are found 10 be
more valuable for the coal therein tEan for
forest uses That so much OF the act %
June 4. 1897, as pertains to the exchanges
| Of lands within foreign reservations for
I those without be amended BY adding this
pIOyiso, to wit.
Recommendation in matter Of perfect
ed claims TO lands in forest reserves.
where ownership is established and land
is reeOnveyed TO the United States. and
for the following specific legislation:
That the entryman or owner Of lands IN forest
reservation, desiring 20 convey the sIme % the
United states must file with his relincpiishueut
his affidavit, duly covroborated by the oaths q
{
character Of the lanes % De relinquished their
relative value for agricultural. mining and for
eS5 purposes the character. extent aud value
OF tHe improvements thereon. and the purpu~es for
which they have been occupied or used. In ali
eases where such lands are not occupied or used
for farming purposes il must be shown in such
affidavit that they are valuable f5r forest
purposes than for the mineral thereon or for agri-
cultural purposes
That existing legislation as TO. home
stead entry contests be modified so as 20
make unnecessary the allegation and proof
IOw required that abandonment was rot
due to military or naval service and 20 Dro-
vide as defence on the part Of the set
tier defendant at time CT hearing such facts
as he may submit as TO actual service in
the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the
United States in tine of war
Repeal OK the two acts Of June 8. 1875
go Stat, IS and So. and of the act OF Au-
gust 4, 1892 (27 Stat. 34Sl. relating 20 tim
Der on public lands in certain States aud
TerTitCrj=s
For the enactment OF a general law
which shall repssI the numerous conflict
ing and undesirable existing statutes re-
specting timber on the unreserved lands,
and in their stead make due provision for
the protection and use Of timber on such
lands.
That the appropriation for the services
Of special agents in connection with the
protection Of the public lands for the COM
ing year be not less than $50, eco"