Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-01-30
AGAINST LAND CRABBERS
BurlSsOn Of Texas Explains the Purpose Of
His Concurrent Resolution.
MANY SUITS ARE LIKELY TO FOLLOW
Fact that Lands Are only Fitted for
- Grazing Does Not warrant Vio-
r.. IatiOn of Law to secure
! M Them.
Gro. Correspondent

NADflNblO 'f.-NoptGldl ltlt-
grant, MIR. Bur1e. exas, in explain
concurrent resolution yesterday calling
upon the secretary of the interior for GER
tain information relative to land leases
and illegal fencing in New Mexico, wyom-
ing and Nebraska, said:
Certain laws on our statute books were
placed there to enable poor men to secure
small homes in the west where the bulk OF
the public domain Is located. These laws
have in fact failed Of their purpose, except
in a few instances, but are being utilized
to enable rich cattle owners and corporat-
tions to acquire immense bodies of land.
The present homestead act should be ma
terially amended and the desert land law
should be promptly repealed. Millions Of
acres Of land are year by year, through
practices never contemplated when these
acts were passed. being absorbed by classes
of persons whom it was never intended
should acquire the public domain through
these acts. The purpose Of the resolution
have introduced is to get at the truth with
reference to these abuses, and when the
facts are ELECTED to vigorously prosecute
suits TO reclaim the public domain which
has been fraudulently acquired.
'It is said old soldiers and often wild
bers to acquire land which should be re-
served for men who want to get homes,
live on them and improve them. II 1 can
get a full report from the Interior depart
ment, ! expect to see numbers of suits in
stituted to restore these lands to the pub
! lie domain and place them within reach Of
the people who should have them. The
claim that these lands, so acquired, are
| in the arid or semi-arid regions and are un-
| fit for cultivation is no justification for the
\ monopolization of vast areas to be used
for the enrichment Of large cattle owners.
| II the claim has substantial basis, then
| the homestead act should be amended and
larger amount, not to exceed six sec
tions, should be allowed each actual set
| tier"
More Money for Indians.
Through the effort Of Representative
| Burke Of South Dakota a number Of addi-
| tional appropriations for Indian schools in
! South Dakota were added to the Indian bill
| today. Before final vote was taken on the
measure for the Chamberlain school, SIG, 900
| was added to carry out the previous legis-
| lation looking to an increase in capacity
| of the institution; for Pierre $1,000 was
added, while for Rapid City a $1,000 in
| crease was decided upon over the bill as
| originally reported. In addition to this
| amount the house voted $11 900 for the pur-
| chase OF an irrigated farm at the Rapid
| City school, while the agents salary was
increased to $500. These additional ap-
propriations were made necessary by the
determination of the Indian office to in
crease the Rapid City school from $50 to
225 capacity.
The item in the Indian bill appropriating
q Fur he -
the Genoa (Neb) school was opposed by
Representative Burton of Ohio who has
been making a most earnest and at times
hot fight against many Of the obsolete items
| in the Indian bill. Mr.. Robinson of Me-
braska opposed Mr.. Durton's motion 20
strike out the item and told how the town
of Genoa had been supplying the school
| with water from it's own water works and
making money Of the government in no
wise commensurate with the service rem
dered. Mr.. Burkett, having received let
ter from a member of the town council re-
garding the water furnished the school by
the city, read the letter. Little or no de-
bate resulted and when the vote was taken
on Mr.. Burton's amendment to strike out
the appropriation il was defeated and the
Genoa school stands a fair show OF getting
an independent water system.
/ y. A. ray, 6ullCE Oh l0e CllnIOn ia
Advertiser, and wife are in Washington
enroute to Florida, where they will spend
several weeks.
Howard Worth of Rapid City is in the
capital on his way to New York.
Vandevanter Gets Judgeship.
President Roosevelt has decided to nomi.
nate Willis Vandevanter of Wyoming az
circuit judge of the eighth circuit, as was
predicted in The Bee on the day the bill
passed congress creating an additional
! judge for this circuit.
Warren d. Lane OF Sisseton, S. D., was
admitted to practice this morning before
the supreme court and during the after
noon argued in behalf Of the appellee II
the case Of the United States against Jane,
A. Rickert, as county treasurer for Robert,
county, South Dakota Senator KittredgC
was also one of the attorneys for the ap.
pellee.
Routine of Departments.
Contract Surgeon Richard NJ. Fletcher
! jr., has been relieved from duty at For
Niobrara and ordered home, Huntsville
Ala, for annulment OF contract.
Postmasters appointed: Nebraska.-F. A
Witt. Thompson, Jefferson county, vice S
]. Wahl, removed. Wyoming-John II
eNuLAlNAt bdNAlts tdIbOu county
The postmaster general has allowed tn,
postmaster at Grand Island two additiona
letter carriers to begin service February .
The National Live Stock bank OF Chicag,
has been approved as reserve agent for tn
First National bank Of Algona, la.
. Trouble in the Red Cross.
General John NJ. Wilson, vice presiden
!, Of the National Red Cross, presented L
! congress today a memorial regarding tha
| organization, especially with reference L
certain difficulties which lays arisen in re
gard to the management OF It's affairs.
! Included in the papers : letter iron
Secretary Cortelyou TO Miss Clara Barton
9 president OF the Red Cross, in which h
says that in a copy OF the bylaws cub
mitted by the association the president an
his cabinet are constituted board OF con
sultation OF the American Rel Cross. MI
v Cortelyou says it is impossible for the Pres
: ident and cabinet to serve and asks tha
n public announcement be made Of thai fac
Complaint is made In memorial sen
to President Roosevelt OF the manler /
8 which the organization is placed in m
hands OF one person and OF the mana g.
ment Of the finances OF the association, an
legislation TO remedy this Is asked.
A View Iowa Fair Site.