New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-12
REFORM IN LAND LAWS.
MR. H4NSBROUGH'S BILL
Its Purpose Is to Stop Frauds and
Speculation.
rrnow TIE rnInrxE nrREAu.I

Washington Nov Il-An important land measure
introduced in the Senate on Monday by Mr.
Hansbrough chairman Of the Public Lands Com
nlittee This bill is drawn along the lines indicated
in the interview published in The Tribune Of Octo-
Der 10
The bill by implication repeats the Timber and
Stone act under which land is now acquired at
& 80 acre. regardless of its real value. and
authorizes the Secretary Of the Interior TO make
examinations and estimates relative to the quantity
and value of the timber stone on the pubic
lands. and to sell the right to cut and dispose OIL
the same in such quantities may seem advis-
able TO the highest bidder. This is the plan now
being so successfully pursued IN the sale of timber
on Indian lands in Minnesota. Under the proposed
bill the title the land remains in the govern
r1ent. and the Secretary of the Interior may fix
the limit Of time in which the purchaser Of the
right shall remove the timber or stone
The right 10 cut the timber and make IL a mer-
charitable quantity is made nalienable If this
measure becomes 4 law all the timber on the public
domain will be Withdrawn from entry, and the
government will enter the policy Of disposing Of
its timber market value There is also a
provision which prohibits the entry of these lands
under the homestead other land laws and for
bids the laying Of scrip thereon In this way and
by retaining the fee to the land. reforestraton will
take place. and the sale OF timber by the govern
ment will become d source of considerable reve-
nre. 1t puts a quietus upon speculation in public
timber lands and end to the frauds which have
recently grown into national scandal
The second section of the bill is a necessary con-
comtant to the first 1t amends the Lieu Land
Selection act. to provide that when settler
whose entry falls within Il forest reserve selects
another piece OF land in lieu OF his original entry.
the land selected must be more valuable for
agricultural purposes than for timber or stone
Under existing law, many OF the entrymen who
find themselves within a forest reserve proceed to
cut and dispose OF the timber on their entry. ana
then go outside the reserve and file a homestead
upon other timber land.
The third section amends the act OF March II;
1902 which provides that proofs under the several
land laws may be made before United States COM
missioners local courts of record. The proposed
amendment requires all proofs Of committed home
stead and desert land entries to be made before
registers and receivers in local land offices The
fact has been fully established by information rez
ceived the General Land Office that nearly all
the proofs concerning which there Is any question
as to regularity those now made before local
courts and court commissioners. This proposed
amendment to existing law is recommended by the
Commissioner of the General Land Office. who in
his last report saws: The privileges gained by
the act have Ee+n greatly abused, particularly by
United States commissioners. who have often been
parties to wholesale frauds in connection with
proofs made before them"