The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-29
HOMES AND THE NORTH HALF.
WHY FREE HOMES BILL DID NOT
COVER RESERVATION.
Mr.. Jones Says Friends of the Dill
Did Everything They Possibly
Could Under the Circumstances
for the Reservation Homeseekers

Special Dispatch TO the Post-Intelligeneer.
WASHINGTON, June ga short time
ago there appeared in the editorial col
umns of the Spokesman Review some
what OF a criticism on the Washington
homes act was not framed so as to cover
the north half OF the Colville reservation,
and why the act did not change the law
of iSS SO the reservation could be opened
before the 10th of October. Representa-
tive Jones being the only member of the
/ delegation remaining in the city. your cor
I respondent brought the matter TO MS at
There was a very determined oppose
ton to the passage of the free homes
Democratic sources. There was also some
Republican opposition TO the bill and II
was though, by the friends Of the measure
that 1t would be best to have the bill
$50 framed as to meet with as little oppo-
sition as possible. as we felt that. II we
got the bin through affecting reservations
precedent for future actions as to other
reservations. IL the bill had been framei
so as to cover the north half of the Col
VILE reservation without any doubt IL
would have had to be framed 40 as TO
cover the opening OF future reservations
This would have at this time met with
such opposition that IL was feared such
bill would not be passed 1t was there
! fore decided to take the bill as It stands
and pass future legislation for any reser-
vations hereafter opened.
There is no doubt In my mind but that
such legislation will be passed. The first
payment upon lands In the Colvile reser-
! walton does not have 10 be made for two
/ years, and ! do not believe that there will
he any trouble In having similar legislation
passed for this reservation, before that
/ time expires.
The proclamation having been issued
| prior to the passage of the bill, IL was
| really thought by some that the bill would
I cover the reservation and II was not
! deemed best TO endanger the bill by maxi
! ing any more definite provision. The
whole matter was considered and action
| taken in the way thought best
AS to legislation fixing an earllnr date
! for the opening of the reservation. will
say that this matter. was never callei 70
been issued. had been asked to urge
the opening of the reservation, and this
| rave done. | had also recel ;cd COM
munications from the department In an
swer to my requests stating that after
| the proclamation was issued II would be
| six months before the reservation would
be opened to settlement. These commune
cations l transmitted to different parties
| interested and received no objections
| whatever After the proclamation had been
| issued protests were sent in and requcsts
made that an earlier date should have
been set for opening the lands to. settle
ment. then looked up the law and found
| that II was provided in 1t that six months
must transpire from the issuance of the
proclamati9n before entry and settlement.
| could be made. 1t was then late In the
| spring and from investigation and con-
versation with different. members of con-
gress and of the committee Interested, |
| felt satisfied that II would be Impossible
I to get 1t through in time TO do any good.
| 1t must be further understood that, un-
| der the homestead laws. an entryman
! mas six months from the time of his en-
| try in which to establish his residence
| upon the land. This would allow a per-
son. who should make his entry in octo-
! Der, until the next April in which to es-
| tablish his settlement
! 1T seems to me that this provision
/ somewhat obviates the objection to the
] n A.
| crops somewhere else during this year,
/ make his entry upon this land and settle
e was 40 dne bv ef tbs next year
/ that could have been done In these differ
| ent matters
There has been n great deal Of delay In
! the matter OF surveys of townships 6 and
north, range east. in Cowlitz county.
| Washington, and Representative Jones has
! been vigorously pushing the matter before
| the department with the result OF having
commissioner Hermann go over all the
congressman the commissioner states:
This office Is anxious TO have the sur
yeys In these two townships put in a con-
office has used every effort TO that end
Township north, range east is In
eluded IN contract No. +T. Manford O.
Usher. deputy surveyor. and township I
north. range east, is Included in contract
No. 40, William Mayer. deputy surveyor
Surveys have been made of both these
tpNHeiipss anu the surveys nave both
been examined and found to be defective.
| the survey OF township north range
east, was examined and found to he so
effectively made as to preclude the accent
ance by this office. until corrected In the
field, the deputy surveyor was directed TO
return TO the field and correct his work
TINS office Is new in receipt Of the cor
rected returns of the deputy. and the mat
/ ter will he taken up Just as soon az II IL
reached In Its regular order. II II is found
2 "A condition accountable n thfa a.
| be accepted, and then Deputy Mayer viii
/ be directed 20 return to the field for tho
purpose OF making the corrections neces-
/ sary In township north, range east
las much az this office regrets the delay
/ attendant upon the acceptance Of the eur
yey Of the townships in question, this once
deputy surveyors. TO whom the work was
I entrusted. had made correct surveys OF
The townships, there would not have been
this delay"
The commissioner further states that
II Il Is found upon an office examination
| Of the corrected returns Of the deputy,
in connection with the report of the ex-
Z aminer of SURVEYS who made the exam
( lnation IN the field. that township north
range cast. has not been properly made,
Il may be necessary TO have an entirely
new survey made ~ this township before
Deputy Mayer Will 10 be authorized to re-
turn to the field to correct his surveys in
township north, range east, under con-
tract No. 40
Representative Jones being asked as 10
how he liked the ticket. Mckinley and
I Roosevelt. said.
ut f. ali right. II II rre-emineutly the
Peoples choice The office sought only
the nan IN each case The ticket Ia tho
embodiment not only ~ the ciyn war
but ~ the war ~ iNs The men are
men ~ unsurpa ssed ability. unquestianei
integrity and intense patriotism They
represent IN their characters the two dis
I tincnveiv characteristics ~ The RepuA
can PARTY, conservatism and progression
The sieket Appeals moat strongly 90 the
Z old ard The Young. and IN my fIdgme M
VII be elected hy a greater majority than
fhe Republican ticket received I'm 1856
James W. Davis has been recommended
as postmaster A. T'olt King county and
=. y. Hardness az Everaon. Whatcom
county