The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1903-12-05
NORTH DAKOTA SENATORS BUSY,

They Get In Some Bills In the Opening
Days.
Senator. McCumber's bill to confirm
and legalize prior admissions to citi-
zenship, where the Judge or clerk of
court administering the oath has
failed to sign or seal the record, oath
or judgment of admission, is a bill
which is attracting wide attention. It
is a we'll known fact that thousands Of
applications for citizenship nave, from
time to time, in all of the states, been
nullified, not by reason of any fault Of
the applicant for citizenship, but by
reason of the failure of the United
States officials to properly fulfill the
functions of their offices. This being
the case, the McCumber bill is at
tracing a great deal of favorable com.
ment in the newspapers Of the great
cities, where the applications for citi-
zenship are most numerous.
This bill is particularly of interest
to the people of the Great West and
Northwest because of the following
provision:
THAT no entry or final proof made
upon public lands under the pre-emp-
ton, timber culture, homestead, or
desert land laws, by such applicant or
his heirs, shall be deemed invalidated
by reason of the failure or neglect of
the said Judge or clerk to sign such
jurat, or order, or judgment, as the
case may be-, or afix the seal Of such
court thereto" -
This bill is now before the judiciary
committee, where it is said to be re-
garded with great favor, so that q "a
vorable report may be expected some
time during the regular session Of
congress.
Senator Hansbrough presented In
the senate a memorial Of sundry citi-
zens of Brocket, N. D., demonstrating
against the passage of the so-calleed
parcels post bill, which was referred
to the committee on postofices and
post roads.
He also presented petitions of the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
of Niagara, of sundry citizens of
Griggs county, and of the Sunday
school Of the Methodist Episcopal
church of Absaraka, all in the state of
North Dakota, praying. for an investi-
cation of the charges made and filed
against Hon. Reed Smoot, a senator
from the State of Utah, which were
referred to the committee on priv
ileges and elections.
The following bills have been intro
duced in the senate: By McCumber, a
bill Is. 92S) providing for the ex'
elusive use of the proceeds arising
from the sale of public lands in GER
tain states and territories for the pur-
pose of irrigation and reclamation OF
arid and semi-arid lands in the state
or territory in which the lands
so sold are situated until such time as
it shall be definitely ascertained that
the whole or any portion of such pro-
ceeds cannot be feasibly expended in
irrigation projects in such state or ter
ritory; which was read twice by Its
title and referred to the committee on
irrigation and reclamation of arid
lands.
He also introduced a bill Is. 929)
granting an increase of pension to
Charles Stermer, which was read
twice by its title and referred to the
committee on pensions.
He also introduced a bill Is. 93O)
granting an increase Of pension to
Ferdinand Wiedemann, which was
read twice by its title and referred to
the committee on pensions.
Senator Hansbrough introduced q
bill Is. $500 granting an increase OF
pension to Andrew C. Ranard. which
was read twice by its title and refer
red to the committee on pensions.