The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-11-01
ONLY A FARCE
And Source of Expense for
the Claimant.

In editorially commenting on the
land laws as interpreted by the of1ic-
ials at Washington, the Duluth La
Dor World hits the nail fairly on the
head when il says:
THE general land office, Washing
ton. d. c., in its administration and
management of the public land laws
is steadily pursuing policy which
makes it harder and harder for the
poor man to acquire title to public
land, and easier and easier for the
Weyerheusers and the Northern Pa
cific Railroad company so to do"
'Rulings and orders are numerous
enough, and each successive ruling eX-
GELS its predecessor in simon pure, un-
adulterated idiocy.
"These aristocratic Washington
gentlemen arrogate to themselves
monopoly of the virtue of honesty, but
if their integrity is on par with their
practical common sense, no one,need
envy them the possession.
"What earthly sense or reason is
there in putting timber and stone ap-
plicants to the expense of making two
trips to their claims before final proof
is accepted? Are these Washington
officials so unpardonably stupid as not
to know that one examination made
thoroughly, is of more value in deter
mining the character Of the land than
hundred trips hastily and superfic-
tally made?
"What ails our land department in
Washington anyway? Last winter
the very walls of the capitol resounded
with senatorial and representative
denunciations of its methods and poll
cies, but apparently to no avail. The
same exasperating policy is still pur-
sued with unabating vigor and il pos
sible, with even greater determination
than every before, to throw every pos
sible technicality and obstruction in
the way of the man Of limited means
in his efforts to obtain pittance of
Gods acre even when paying there for
the price prescribed by law.
"We are Informed by those in posi-
tion to know, that the registers Of
flee in Duluth is over a year behind
with its work, and that this is largely
occasioned by spending valuable time
in complying with some foolish, red
tape requirement, emanating from
Washington, and serving no useful
purpose whatsoever, unless the annoy
ing and harassiug of claimants comes
within the category of usefulness
from the departments standpoint.
Evidently it does, for not being
content with the annoyance and in
convenience of present delays, the de-
partment has added new burdens to
the already oyerburdened local office
by requiring its officials to make out
applications, af1i1avits, etc., under
the various land laws.
Another ruling so thoroughly un-
American as to be simply cOntemp-
tible, is that which prohibits final
proof claimants, from having their
attorney even sit in the room where
the claimants are testifying. Honest
claimants, inexperienced in matters
pertaining to the domain of legal pro-
cedure are thereby discouraged and
evidently that's the purpose of the re-
quirement.
"The land department has always
been unfortunate in the mental cali
bre and judgment of the men selected
to administer its laws. 1t is, the one
department Of our government, that
has never yet come up to the stand
ard of efficiency which the public well
fare demands. The postof1ice depart
ment though its duties are much
more difficult and complicated has in
variably rendered highly satisfact-
DRY service to the people. but the land
department not for many year.
"There is no possible excuse for it
Feither. The land laws are so plain
the wayfaring man ought to under
stand them. Everybody but the Of
ficials of the department does under
stand them. Congress has pronOunc-
ed upon them, the courts have again
and again interpreted them, still the
department persists in putting erron-
eous and strained construction upon
their pldnest provisions.