Arizona republican., 1903-11-14
The Hansbrough Land Bill.

Senator Hansbrough has lost no time
 in the introduction of his promised bil
 to reform the land laws. It provides
 in effect for the repeal of the laws
 which permit the requirement of pub,
 lie lands under timber or stone en-
 tries. and tfffit becomes a law 1t will put an gend to the frauds whereby large areas of valuable land have been acquired for Speculative purposes. It does not repsai the desert land act, however, and for that reason It Will probably meet the Exposition of re- formers who wish s0i see more drastic legislation. 9H H+
 It may be seriously questioned, how ever, whether it would be wise for the government to witharawi the privileges which have been extended to settlers under the desert laiidiact.i That there has been some fraud ip the acquire ment of titles under this, act cannot be questioned. but there has been much exaggeration as to their extent and inn portance. The greatest levils so far made public have been De etpetrated un- der the timber and stone acts. Un- der the desert land act the land must be actually reclaimed 'bef0re title there to can be obtainedZor there must be collusion with goverAmsnt officials from the beginning to the end of the transaction. Much Of the Agricultural development of Arizona sisa 2 been made under the desert land law, and the same holds true of the arid west gen orally.
 As noted below,,. Senator Hans brough's bill does provide a modifica- tion of the desert and homestead laws in the matter of proof. ma king it nee essary for proof to be made before registers and receivers. and this cer- tainly is a step in the right direction.
 According to the Washington dis patches the secretary of the Interior is authorized under. the ney bill to make examinations and estimates rel ative to the quantits and value sof the timber and stone loaJ the publieolands, and is to have the right to dIsps,e of the same in such quantities, as may Seem advisable to the highest bidders
 This plan is now pursusduinl the sale of timber on Indian lands tine Min nesota. The title of the laftI remains in the government, and the seerctary of the interior may fixbthse limit of time in which the purchaseiss of, the right shall remove thea timber or stone. The right to cut the .tlIfi5er and make it merchantablesIpg 3duct is made inalienable. 1s sf ss
 If Senator Hansbroagh's measure becomes a law. ah the timber land on the public 'domain ;wfll be with drawn from rentsg. and the govern mcnt win ente.isaupon the policy of disposing1 of 7hs tfmber at it's market value Orle provision in the bill pro- habits tncT entry of these lands under | the Homestead or other land laws. It is argued by Senator Hansbrough that | in leaving the fee to the land in the l government, reforestation will take place and the sale of timber will be | a source of large revenue.
 The second section of the bill amends | the lieu land section, so as to provide that when a settler, whose entry falls | within forest reserve, selects another | piece of land in lieu of his original l entry it must be more valuable for | agricultural purpose than for timber | or stone.
 In the existing law many of the en- trymen who ind themselves within a | forest reserve cut and dispose of the | timber on the land. and later go out side of the reserve and file a home stead on other timber land
 The third section of the bill amends the get of March Il, 1901, and requires all proofs of committed homestead and desert land entries to be made before registers and receivers in local land offices. This proposed amendment to existing law is recommended by the commissioner of the general land of- flee, who, in his last report, says: The privileges gained by the act have been greatly abused. particularly by United States commissioners. who have often been parties to wholesale frauds in proofs made before them"