The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-08-19

land monopoly surrounding him and
choking his small but legitimate en-
terprise to death in it's inception. This
view, however, is extreme, and not
| likely to be taken By congress. 1t
| would in,CCse too long a time upon
those desiring to acquire timber
| lands, for one thing, and would prac
tically shut off the settlement of
man could support himself, unaided,
for a period Of five years.
Conservatism Essential
The sentiment in favor of reform
IS growing, but any attempt at such
radical reform as this would be met
with failure Reform legislation. to
pass congress, must be to some ex-
tent conservative, sort of cOmpro-
mise measure. Congress will never
consent to the repeal of the timber
and stone act, unless some suitable
legislation is enacted providing a new
but equitable means by which public
timber lands can be acqui4 ed 1t is
possible that some legislation may
be framed authorizing the sale af tim.
Der land from the public domain.
practice that is now prohibited but
for which there is more or less de-
nand. The propriety Of such legisla-
ton is questionable, inasmuch as the
sale of timber would decrease the val
us Of the land itself and reduce the
probability of its ultimate disposal.
Desert Laws Favor Stockmen.
1t is alleged by many that the pas
sage of the national irrigation law has
largely done away with the necessity
for the desert-land act. but this as
sertion will be called into question
1t is a fact that the government has
been Swindled cut of thousands of
acres Of grazing and even agricul-
tural land by persons who have oper-
ated under the desert-lanI law, and
so long as that law continues in it's
present form these frauds can never
be entirely arrested Violations of
| the desert-land law have not been SO
extensive on the Pacific coast as in
the states east of the Rocky noun
talns, particularly in Montana. But
even IN those states the desert law
| has many friends as well as enemies.
| Most Good Settlers Don't Commute.
A more consistent fight can be
made on the Communication clause Of
the homestead law than on either of
the laws above specified, but a num-
Der OF western congressman. men of
influence, too, are fighting the repeal
or this law, On the ground that it
would unnecessarily work hardship
On settlers. On the other hand adj
VOcateS OF repeal assert that any man
who sincerely enters 100 acres under
the homestead law, with the in1en-
tlcn or making 1t his permanent home,
could certainly not object to being
Obliged to live on his land for five
years, and to cultivate and improve
1t. They insist that a bona fde Set
tier, settler Of the desirable class.
would do this, regardless of the law :
would do it in his own interest, and
would much prefer to acquire title by
residence, than by paying cash for
the land after he had resided thereon
Tor IA months. One prominent mem
Der OF the 5th congress and occupies
a high place on the public lands com
mittee, in discussing this question
last winter said that the commute.
; ton clause should never be repealed
: He insisted that settlers should be al
: lowed 10 acquire title to their lands
as soon as possible, in order that they
! might mortgage their homesteads
and raise money with which to buy
: farm machinery, build a home and
barns and purchase stock. But This
: member did not explain what The
! money that settler would be reouir
ed to pay for his land could not be
= applied at the outset to the purchase
r of machinery, etc, and then acquire
: title to the land by mere settlement
A Strong Case for Reform.
Il Upon the showing of facts which
team be made by the interior depart