The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-07-10
Pulse of the Press
Placing the Credit.
ILintOn RecOrd.l

Again has Senator Hansbrough DEM
onstrated that the people OF state are
wise when they do as many of the
Older states have done for generations
keep their senator's and representa-
lVes In congress term after term, al
lowing the delegation to acquire such
influence and experience as will en-
able them to much better than at first
serve the interests of their constitu-
ents. There is, partly in this county,
what was formerly the Fort Rice reser-
Walton. Some years ago it was thrown
open to settlement. but with the pro-
vision that the settlers pay for the
lana. The land is just about the same
IN quality as other lands in this region,
and there was no justice in making
settlers pay for the reservation land
when across an imaginary line Uncle
Sam was giving away as good farms to
actual settlers. Some time ago SEN
atOr HanSbrOush was requested by the
Rice settlers to act in the matter of
procuring remedial legislation, to the
end that reservation settlers might Sc
cure title to their farms on the same
terms as other settlers. He introduced
bill and worked valiantly for its pas
sage. But there was strong opposition
by some of the senators representing
the older states. and, when the session
OF congress grew near adjournment
last week, it appeared that the bill
would fall by the wayside. But the
senior senator-who for many months
editors OF the Patterson stripe had
been abusing like a dog'-had been in
congress long enough to know all of
the ins and outs of congressional legis-
lation. and he did not despair. The
end of the session was so near that the
Rice bill could not be reached by
regular methods of procedure. But it
happened that similar bill covering
the Fort Crittenden reservation. in
Utah, was pending, and its position on
the calendar was such that it would
he reached. While it was under con-
sideration in the senate Mr.. Hans
brough succeeded in attaching to it a
rider" covering the Rice reservation.
In this way it passed the senate. 1t
was at once sent to the house. where it
was believed there was majority
against it. In fact, the public lands
committee of the lower body was
strongly antagonistic. The Utah bill
had originated in the house. and the
Rice reservation was in the nature of
senate amendment. So, when the bill
reached the house. a conference COM
mittee was appointed and sent to meet
similar committee from the senate.
Representative Tom Marshall worked
hard with the house conferees, and
they finally agreed to Hansbrough's
senate amendment. The bill saves the
Fort Rice settlers between $4,000 and
100000. The text of the Hansbrough
amendment is as follows: "All per-
sons having filed. or may hereafter
file. homestead applications upon any
of the lands situate within the aban-
doned Fort Rice military reservation,
in North Dakota. shall be entitled to a
patent to the land filed upon by such
person upon compliance with the pro-
visions of the homestead law of the
United States and proper proof thereof,
and shall not be required to pay the
appraised values of such land in addi-
ton to such compliance with said
homestead laws" The Fort Rice reser-
walton wouldn't. just now. be healthy
neighborhood wherein to recite the
apochryphal old yarn of The Loot
ing Of Alaska" u.