East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-11-13

SeidNoT leleI-f1oW iHuCu VI IL IL
there?
Senator Fulton-I don't know. I
drove 80 miles through It, as a rough
guess. suppose there must be
Senator Teller-Which way from La
Grande is this?
Senator Fulton-West of La Grande
on the western slope, and taking in
the western spurs of the mountain
range.
Asks Fulton to Explain.
Senator McCumber-Will you ex-
plain to me what this is? This pro-
vdes that all persons who have not
heretofore purchased any of the lands
of the Umatilla Indian reservation,
and have made full and final pay
ment thereof in conformity with the
acts of congress of March 8, 1885, re-
specting the sale of such lands, shall
now be entitled to a patent Why
are they not entitled to a patent any
way If they have made full payment?
Senator Fulton-Tn addition to
making full payment, they have to
make proof of one years residence and
OF cultivation to the extent of % acres.
Senator McCumber-How did these
persons happen to purchase that land
under an agreement that they were
to reside upon it for at least one year,
and now find that 1t was not of a char
acter that they can reside upon?
Senator Fulton-Well, you know
that there is lot of that land. Tae
land was divided into classes and they
purchased a great deal of it without
seeing 1t at all.
Senator cCumber-Intending it
for a home?
Senator Fulton--It was sold at pub
lie auction. They supposed generally
that they could use It for home. and
that portion which they could not use
some of twas purchased after
wards. But there was decision by
the secretary Of the interior, or the
general land offiCe-T have forgotten
which-to the effect that while they
could not get their patent until they
made proof of residence and cultiva-
tion, yet, having paid their money
they could hold the land and could
obtain their patent when they made
of the essence; they could hold the
land indefinitely. \ great many of
them were willing To do that for the
purpose of getting few months
pasturage for their sheep. and they
bought great deal of it with the un-
derstandmg that that would be the
policy of the department. But now
the department is insisting that they
must forfeit their title to whatever
they have secured if they do not make
proof of cultivation and settlement
Asked as To Purchasers.
Senator Clapp-How large are
these purchases Individually?
Senator Fulton-They are small. I
have not heard of any one having un-
der control over a section. | can see
no possible disadvantage to any per-
son, nor any injury to any one as long
as they make proof, satisfactory to
the department, that the land is in
capable of settlement.
Senator Clapp-Tt might possibly In
volve some perjury on the part Of
these people. In the interest of good
morals I believe that requirement
ought to be stricken out.
Senator McCumber-Are not some
of these purchasers spectators?
Senator Fulton-No, sir; they are
not. I know nearly all of them.
They are residents there--shcepmen
and cattlemen. I took the pains to
ride over this land myself, in order
that l might be thoroughly familiar
with the situation.
Senator Teller-What is the de-
partments position in this matter?
Senator Fulton-The department is
against US on these grounds. They
say these people must have known
the character Of the land when they
took 1t: that Is ALL
Senator Teller suppose If we do
not put in the amendment they will
simply go up there and live there
nominally a year-live there few
months and assert that they have lived
there year?
Senator Fulton-It Is almost COM
pelling a man to do something in vio-
lation of his conscience If you ask him
to try to make a home and scratch out
an alleged cultivation on such land
in order to get his title. 1t does not
seem to me, where it can be proven
that the land Is unfit for residence ol
cultivation, that a man should be put
| to such straits.
Senator McCumber-As the depart
ment says, 1t seems they must have
known what they were buying. The!
probably bought 1t intending to use i
for grazing purposes, and bought /
cheaply.
Senator Fulton-They bought it a
the established price.
Senator Teller-How much wa
that?
Senator Fulton-$1.50, think; 1t 1
indefinite in my mind this morning
whether 1t was s1.50 or 50.
Senator McCumber-How man!
acres are involved?
Senator Fulton-That is rather diff
ficut to tell, but / should imagine
there would be, perhaps, 1000 acres
Senator Clapp-Not more than that
Senator Fulton-I should not thinl
so.
Senator Dubois-Would there b'
any danger of very large holdings o.
grazing lands close to agriculture
lands?
Senator Fulton-This land is no
close to any agricultural land.