The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1900-05-31
Signing OF Free Homes Bill.

"A Washington special under dave OF
the II, to the Wichita Eagle has the
following; The last deed In tho en-.
nctmcnt Of free homes legislation
was accomplished ut $40 tins af.
tcrnoon when President Mckinley
signed the free homes bill and present.
ed the pen with which he did so to
Senator" Flynn.
About 3 o clock little group Of cx.
pcctant humanity left the capitol and
proceeded TO the White House. Its
membership comprised the following:
Delegate Flynn and his son Streetcr.
Representative Burke and Gamble Of
South Dakota, Mr.. CANDLES secretary
Mr. McDowcl, former Representative
Sidney Clarke OF oklahoma City, Cap.
J. II. Morphis and Louis Wiscmeyer OF
the Usage reservation, Captain W. w.
Painter of Guthrie, Captain Albert
Hammer of Enid, Dick Plunket OF Ok
lahoma.at.l large, Ransom Payne, cor
respondent of the Guthrie Capital and
the correspondent of the Eagle.
Headed by Flynn, Gamble and Burke
the delegation filed into the presidents
private Office, where Flynn introduced
the visitors.
Then. the the president seated at his
desk, the bill which means 80 much 10
Oklahoma before him, his pen raised,
the visitors circling around, Mr.. Flynn
spoke briefly rs follows:
"Mr President: We are very grateful
to You for the opportunity of being
present ut the signing OF this free
homestead bill. Thirty.eight years
ago your ilmstrious predecessor signed
the original homestead bill. II seems
eminently fitting and proper that the
present homestead bill should be signed
by president, who, since the lamented
Lincoln. is closest and dearest to the
hearts of the American common people.
Words can family express the prayers
that will ascend from Oklahoma homes
tonight that you may enjoy the happi-
ness and prosperity which you make
by this act. Mr.. President, we thank
you"
The president bowed lis thanks and
then solcmnly remarked:
~ know Of no more fitting reply than
to sign this bill which now do"
Following is the full text of the free
homes bill as II passed both houses and
was signed by the president:
"A bill providing for free homestcads
on the public lands for actual and
bona fidc settlers. and reserving the
public lands for that purpose.
he 1t enacted 10y the senate and
house Of representatives Of the United
States of America In congress, assem-
bied, That all settlers under the home-
stead laws of the United States upon
agricultural public lands, which have
already been opened to settlement, &c.
quircd prior to the passage OF this act
by treaty or agreement from the vsri.
GUS Indian tribes. who have resided or
who shall hereafter reside upon the
tract entered in good faith for the peri.
od required by existing law shall be
entitled to n patent for the land 80 en-
tered. upon the payment to the local
land officer Of the usual and customary
fees. and no other further charge Of
any kind wha, soever shall be required
from such settler to entitle him TO u
patent from the land covered BY the
entry: Provided that the right to cam.
n,,. nm, .,,h .,,r, md n,y f,r snid
lands In the option Of any such settler
and In the time and ut the prices now
8xcJ nv .xis,ing laws shall remain In
full force aud effect: Provided, how.
ever, that all sum OF money 30 released
which ~ not released, would belong to
any Indian tribe, shall be paid to such
lndian tribe by the United states, and
that in the event that the proceeds of
the annual sales of the public lands
shall not be sufficient to meet the pay
ments heretofore provided for agricui-
tural colleges and experimental sta.
tions, by an act OF congress, approved
August IL, 1880; for the more complete
endowment and support OF the coll 'eges
for the benefit OF agricultural and me-
chanic arts, established under the pro-
visions Of IN act of congress, approved
July 10, 1882, such deficiency shall he
] yid~d, further. that no lands shall he
herein included ON which the United
states ,,v.rnn.,, has made valuable
.1' s "a. a., ,,.. n..,
Improvements UT 'a"'s '"a' n",. o.A
sofa NJ pnpiie auction oS sa'" govern
ment.
See. 9. That all acts or paris oi
acts inconsistent with the pr PROVISION,
~ Ills ,,, mr.. h.r.bv renenled.
" ~
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