The National tribune., 1901-04-04
KIOWA and
coM4IHBHE M4IHB LANDS.
The Lotterystbry Unauthorized.
A New Plan Suggested.
Spanish War Soldiers and Philippine Vet
Grams May File DecIaratories.

to the effect that these lands would be
| opened, and q rush would be made, the
moment the President should sign the
proclamation on or before Aug. 6.
This will not necessarily follow. Under
the act of Congress the President may Is
sue the proclamation, naming the day and
the hour Of the opening 80 days or mere
in advance should it appear to be to the
best interests of the public to do so.
The desire OF the President and Sec
retary Hitchcock is to avoid an unseemly
rush if possible, and for this reason the
question of how the lands shall be opened
Is still unsettled. 1t has been urged against
the proposition to issue a proclamation
some days or weeks in advance of the ac-
tual opening that this method would only
increase the number of prospective set
tiers who would gather on the borders
| waiting for the appointed hour.
| 1t appears that the Texans along the
southern border of the reservation are
much exercised for fear that the 4S0, 900
Encres of pasture lands, which are to be
| reserved for the Indians, should be To-
Gated along the southern border adjoining
| the Texas line. In this event those COM
| ing in from Texas would have great deal
| further to run in the case of a general
| rush.
The location OF these lands has not
yet been decided upon, and whether they
win stretch along the Texas border or be
located in some other portion of the reser-
| vation is still an open question. 1t is
probable, however, that these pasture
lands, wherever located, will be taken
in n body, as the range for cattle would
thus involve less inconvenience and trouble
to the settlers from the fencing question,
whether the settlers may be obliged to
fence ont the cattle or the Indians be re-
| quired to fence them in or herd them.
A large proportion of the inquiries are
relative to a proposed lottery scheme,
which seems to have been published with
out any warrant of authority in q ST.
Louis paper. Many of the veterans, es-
pecially, have written to the Secretary OF
the Interior asking whether the lands will
be taken by lottery, and some favor the
plan IN preference to a rush.
1t may be stated that there was no au-
thority whatever for the publication as
printed in these columns about two weeks
ago, and the chances are entirely against
the adoption of any such plan. The idea
is quite contrary to the prejudices of Gov
ernment officials on principle, IN the first
place, and in the second place nothing at
all has been hit upon relative TO method
of procedure, so that it could not be an
nounced at this time for the guidance of
those intending to settle on the reservation
in any event. Cf
The Secretary of the Interior has con-
inually advised those who make inquiries
to pay no money to strangers who offer,
for Il fat fee,J TO act as agent in filing
soldiers declaratories.
n method has been proposed TO the
President and Secretary Hitchcock to pro-
tect veterans against unprincipled agents,
and to give them the preference contsm-
low soldiers to- mail their declaratories
with proof of service, such as honorable
discharge, or other evidence, to the Regis
ter and Receiver of the Local Land Office,
and to have the agents of the Interior
Department who allot the land to the In
dians, also to make the allotment of lands |
covered by soldiers declaratories.
1t must be understood, however should
this plan be adopted, it would not prevent |
any person filing homestead entry upon |
a quarter section allotted to the declara- |
tory, but any entry so made would be- |
come null and void, provided the soldier, |
his wife, or his minor heirs should appear |
within the prescribed six months from |
date of filing said declaratory upon his |
respective quarter section. 1t is not set |
tied yet whether there is authority of law |
for adopting this plan, but it is believed |
there is, and should it be decided upon it |
is thought that this would afford ample |
protection for filing declaratories without |
employing an agent at an exorbitant fee. |
There is a small legal fee prescribed by I
the Government in such cases, but there 1
would be no attorneys fee to pay. IL /
this plan of filing by mail should be ap-
proved by any veterans who wish to enter /
lands in this way, It would be well to
write to the Secretary of the Interior ex-
pressing an opinion on the subject.
The Commissioner of the General Land
Office has been directed by Secretary
Hitchcock to prepare circular containing
all information relative to the character
nf tba lando ha har Of 30 h.
entered and all other facts in the posses
sion of the Department, and to send these
circulars desiring them. He has been d.
rected to preserve the name and address
Of all who have written to the Department
making inquiries of any sort about these
lands, and to send copy Of this circular
to each. The Commissioner has also been
directed to prepare a set of regulations
covering the act passed by the last Con-
grcss, approved March l of the present
year, which gives the same privileges to
the soldiers of tho Spanish war, and to
those who served in the Philippines, as to
the veterans of the war of the rebellion.
This act will also be construed nuthoriz-
ing the above named soldiers to file their
decaratories through an agent, the same
as the veterans OF 1851 to 1865. The
act of March l is as follows;
BE It enacted, etc. That sections 1904
and 2305 of the Revised Statutes be, and
the same are hereby, amended to read as
follows:
''sec. 23o4. Every private soldier and
officer who has served in the Army of the
United States during the recent rebellion
for 80 days, aud who was honorably dis
charged and has remained loyal to the
Government, including the troops mustered
into the service OF the United States BY
virtue of the third section Of an act ap-
proved Feb. 19, 1862. and every seaman,
marine, and officer who has served in tho
Navy of the United States or in the Ma.
rine Corps during the rebellion for 80
lays, and who was honorably discharged
and has remained loyal to the Government.
and every private soldier and officer who
has served In the Army OF the United
States during the Spanish war, or who [
mas served, Ia serving, or shall have served
IN the said army during the suppression 1
,f the insurrection of the Philippines for
DO days, and who was or shall be hon
'rably discharged; and every seaman, ma
rine, and officer who has served in the ,
Navy of the United States or In the Ma
'ine Corps during the Spanish war, or who
las served. Is serving, o. shall have served
n the said forces during the suppression i
u the insurrection in the Philippines for
20 days, and who was or shall be honor
lbly discharged, shall, on compliance with
me provisions Of this chapter, as here
natter modified, be entitled to enter upon
IND receive patents for quartity OF pub 9
ic lands not exceeding 160 acres. or one n
quarter section, to be taken in compact 8
9rm, according to legal subdivisions, in p