Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-12-16
IRREGULARITIES
IN LAND LAWS


making 1t his actual and permanent
home finds II necessary 70 abandon II
before the expiration Of ave years
form the date OF his settlement, and
he recommends. for 8 stated.
the repeal OF the timber and stone
act and the commutation clause OF
the homesteal act
This act, unless amended rs recon.
mended by the commissioner In his
report. BY eliminating from said act
the provision that permits the assign
ment OF entries before final proof.
should be repealed.
Tho right OF assignment as shown
BY the commissioner In his report IL
contrary TO the fundamental principle
underlying the public land laws. that
entries should be made for the eY-
elusive benefit Of the entrymen and
not for the benefit Of any other per-
son. and practically abrogates the
restriction Of the act limiting n per
son to n entry IN q compact form,
the actual limitation being 5000 acres.
which might embrace q number Of
noncontiguous tracts taken by assign
ent.
Without being 8 o amended the law
bears on lis face liz W condemna.
ton In the facility 1t affords for tho
acquisition by individuals. associa-
tons, and corporations. of vast bodies
IF the public domain. and Is another
menace TO the avowed policy Of the
government OF preserving the remain
Ing public lands for homes for actual
settlers.
Nearly q year ago information
reached the department which strong.
~ Indicated that frauds or d serious
nature had been and were being per-
pertated against the government nm
der what Is known as the forest re.
serve lieu land act OF June 4. 1897. by
= combination Of land spectators on
the Pacific coast. The information
and Indicated frauds were Of 30 grave
1 character that | at once directed q
thorough investigation TO be made
This investigation a commenced
last January, and has been conducted BY
those having charge OF the actual work
with great care and with all possible
expedition consistent with thorough
ness. The investigation has proceed
cd step BY step. without intermission
under my personal direction. and ever,
clew TO wr~ongdoing has been quietl,
followed to It's source. with the result
that IL IL the confident belief Of those
In charge Of the inquiry that the gull
~ parties will be a%pprehended an'
speedily brought TO Justice.
II has been my determination from
the beginning that the matter shoul'
be probed TO the bottom regardless 0
the apparent influential character o
some men involved. and the inquir.
has been conducted throughout alonl
these lines. The work is now nearinI
completion, and the whole matter vii
at an carly date be In shape for defi
lie and appropriate action against Oh
offenders.
While several hundred thoiisan
acres Of public lands are involved
the Illegal tranlactions brought
light. the number OF acres to whic
patents have been obtained by 81
perpetrators Of the frauds Is con
pa%ratiyely small. 4 Is proper 70 50
also that some OF the statements In r
gard TO the matter which have recen
~ appeared in newspapers. both IN ii
East and Id the Wet, are more or LEI
exaggerated and others are mel
surmises. The statements widely q
culated TO the effect that Ave Unite
States senators and a large numb,
OF representatives were implicate
and that the lands involved wouI
reach In value sI5,oO0o0o or s2o.oot
900. are without foundation Ia fact.
can be positively stated that they al
not originate In this department. tn
details and results Of the investis
tlon are known only 10 a few, Al
sensational stories based upon stat
ments which have heretofore appea
Ell ia the press must be received VII
due allowance.
Al tbs proper time d statement "
be made covering the results Of Il
entire Investigation. and the who
matter will be given % the public b
for obvious reasons Il IL not deem
expcdient that a detailed sia.ene
OF the facts should DO given al 9
present time.
The work u the investigation b