Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-21
RIVER LAND CLAIMS
Attempt to Secure Relief for
Certain Des Moines River
Land Settlers.
Congressman Conner Introduces
Bill for Special
Inquiry.
Will Attempt TO Make q Final
Clearing Up OF All
Cases.
,ecial to Times Renublican.

Special to Times Republican.
! Washington, June 21.-It is a well-
known fact that considerable nurn5ef
of settlers upon the Des Moines river
whose claims in connection with the
rights to their homes have never been
settled, are still looking to congress f"r
relief.
| 1t will be recalled that Senator-then
ressman-Doliver, after repe lted
efforts, finally was able, to secure ,aroy
action in many cases of evicted set
! tiers and secured them relief. How
ever, many cases remain unsettled.
Congressman Conner has taken The
matter up and will press it to con-
clusion. He has just introduced bill
into the house bearing upon this .asa,
as follows:
Sec. 1. The secretary of the interior
| is hereby empowered to, and shall APP
point a special commissioner to ii.veH;-
tigate and review the claims of settlers
upon Des Moines river lands in the
state of Iowa, already filed and wnicf
have not been heretofore allowed and
paid, and such other claims of satt .rs
as may be filed with said commission
err within ninety days from the da.e Of
his appointment.
Sec. 2. In said investigation to be
made by said commissioner all claims
| filed shall stand as denied, and after
a consideration of each claim the CONF
| To-, al hn iS Of
| the opinion that the claimant IS en-
| titled TO relief shall determine and re-
port the amount he finds to be due each
| claimant to the secretary of the intari-
or, together with his reasons for his de-
termination and finding, and in all
| cases where he finds the claimant not
entitled to relief he shall state his real
sons for denying the relief.
Sec. 3. The said investigation ss,.l
not include any claims which have
been heretofore allowed and paid IN
any amount whatsoever, and the decis
| ion of, the commissioner in the matter
of indemnity of settlers upon said land
when approved by the secretary OF the
interior shall be final, and the pay
ments made under this act, if any, shall
be treated as final and complete ed
justment of all claims in favor Of set
tiers upon said land.
Sec. 4. The secretary of the interior
when the report of the said commits
sion shall have been completed and
shall have been acted upon by him,
shall then Immediately report the same
to congress for such appropriation as
may be necessary to complete said final
settlement and pay the claims allowed
by said commissioner.
Sec. 5. There is hereby appropriated,
to be paid out Of the treasury IF tbs
United States, the sum of $4,000, or so
much thereof as may be necessary 20
cover the expense of said investiga ion
and compensation of said commission
err in making said investigation and re-
port to the secretary of the interior
provided herein to be made.
This bill is so comprehensive as to
cover the entire proposition and close
the matter entirely. 1t was question
just what committee this bill wou.i
properly come before. Some thought
public lands, and other claims, and
some said neither committee covered
the case 1t was, however. decided
that the committee on claims would
tee the bill has been reported.
AS has been stated it Is very late to
expect to reach final action upon any
new legislation. The fact that this is
a simple proposition of equity, involv
ing only an outlay for preliminary in
vestigation expenses, of $4,000, may ia
cilitate its passage thru the house, N
case a, favorable report is secured FROM
the committee. 1t will then rest with
the speaker to grant recognition 20
bring up the bill and consider 1t. o.
course, In the event of favorable com
mittee report the speaker will natural
ly favor the proposition, If Legislation
is in such condition as to permit If
the bill can be squeezed thru the house
at this session the senators will loubt-
less be able to take care of 1t in the
north end of the capitol next session.