The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-03
TO STOP FRAUD
In LAND DEALS
SENATOR NELSON EXPLAINS HIS
PROPOSED BILL.
It Will Insure the Benefits of Public
Lands for the People to Whom They
Belong-Says the Senate Is Not An
tagonistic to President Roosevelt.

The repeal Of the land scrip act is
considered by Senator Knute Nelson as
one OF the. most important pieces of
legislation in many years. On his re-.
turn to the twin cities yesterday after
a. sojourn in Alexandria,, since congress
closed, Senator Nelson discussed the
measure at length.
land men and railroads, or other persons
holding land scrip, to unload poor land
on the government in return for good.
land selected in exchange, he said. The
holders may sell now, but cannot ex-
change for other lands. The senator
believes the repeal should be supple
mented by the repeal of the stone and
timber act. A bill for, the purpose
passed the senate, but not the house.
Under its provisions many acres of good
agricultural lands have been entered as
unfit for cultivation and bought at
$3.50 an acre.
Senator Nelson said that he thought
that public; lands should be classified in
four divisions, and provision should be
made for their disposition, as follows:
First-All agricultural lands that do not
need the assistance Of irrigation should
be entered only under the homestead law,
without the right of communication. That
Is, nc one should be allowed to prove up
q homestead within fourteen monthsI but
should be compelled to reside Upon his
holding for the regulation five years. In
this way such and would always be re-
served for actual settlers.
Second-Al lands unfit for agriculture
which are good forest lands should be held
should never be sold; but provision should
be made for the sale Of the mature tim
Der upon it. In this way our public for
ests will always be reserved for the peo-
| pie and will be strengthened and main
tanned.
Third-All land that are neither forest
nor agricultural, but are adapted to
| grazing, should be used for that purpose
and leased by the government to
stock-raisers.
Fourth-Lands that need irrigation
should be disposed Of under the provisions
Of the reclamation act. And other land
laws should be repealed with the exception
of those that apply to mining lands.
"Before I left the office of the sec.
rotary Of the INTERIOR said Senator
Nelson, "he advised me that the public
land commission will draft a bill along
the lines OF my suggestions and l expect
session. Of congress-. If such a bill is
passed, such frauds as have startled us
all within the past year will be obviateo
and our public lands will accrue to the
benefit Of the people to whom they be
II think it is a mistaken idea,' hi
said, "that tho senate Is hostile to thu
president. I can assure you that tn
Minnesota delegation will always up
hold the hands of the president.
GAS regards the arbitration treatie'
which were held up in the senate, or 81
emasculated as to be worthless for tn
purpose for which they were originally
drawn, 7 will say that most of the op
position came from democratic senators
Of the south, I think that the repub
licans would have ratified t.: zee
ments had they felt sure t., : the,
controlled a two-thirds vote.'