Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-03-01

same degree as the merchant, and the
{ Tribune does not believe that the opin
ions and charges of the Frances CORES
pondent are shared or endorsed by the
good, substantial farmers generally.
ACTUAL SETTLERS AND LAND
GRABBERs.
When congress is legislating and
the president and the department
are ruling on the land laws of the.
country they are confronted with a
complex proposition 1t is diff
cult problem to apply, without some
hardship, an administrative order
covering the disposition, under the.
land laws of the country, agricultur-
al, grazing. timber, stone and min
eral lands. That there have been
monstrous frauds in the west in the
grabbing, by spectators, of the most
valuable timber lands in the world,
is beyond dispute. That there have
been numerous instances of fraud in
the securing Of agricultural and
grazing lands is also fact. To put
an end to these practices and pre-
serve the comparatively small area
left to the actual home builder is the
aim of President Roosevelt and
should be the desire of every admin
listrative officer.
1t is a fact. however, that in a
purely agricultural region like North
Dakota the application of general
fraud order, that holds up indefi-
nitely the proofs of all homesteaders
good ones as well as bad ones is
working a great hardship to many
pioneers. The cloud upon their title
destroys the opportunity to secure
funds to make needed improvements.
The bulk of the new settlers in this
new country are poor. During the
| first few years they are obliged to
deprive themselves of many neces-
saries and all luxuries. It ought to
be possible for the bona fide settler
who has in good faith complied with
the law, especially in cases of five
year proof, to obtain his patent and
las a business proposition and for the
benefit of his family and the deyel-
opment of the country the securing
1 of a loan with which to purchase
stock or machinery to add to the
output of his farm and the comforts
of home life, is entirely defensible.
! The recent notification of the ex-
ecutive order, whereby agricultural
lands are exempted from the sweep
ling order holding up all proofs until
passed upon personally by special
agent, affords some relief but still
there are many final proofs being
held up unnecessarily. If the gov
eminent could place large NUM-
Der of special agents in the filed to
investigate and report promptly on
all proofs there would not be much
complaint but it seems that congress
has, by reducing the amount of ap-
preparation needed for this work,
emphasized its disapproval Of the
Especial agent system or of the admin
istration Of the land department, and
as matters now stand, further modi-
fcation of the presidents order
would seem almost imperative.
The Chicago Tribune, on the ultra
conservative side of the question,
says editorially: s
1.-THE tender hearted congressman
Weeps over the unhappy lot of the
poor homesteader who has lived five
years on his land and cannot receive
a patent for it until an investigation
shows that his statement of facts is
correct. The congressman who is
thus agitated over the poor but hon
est homesteader cares not; If the
waving of investigation gives the
| rich but dishonest land thief chance
to seize without risk the inheritance
of the people. He has not even sigh
for the plight of the homesteader of
the future who may find when he
comes that all that is most choice has
fallen into the hands of nonresident
capitalists.
The money which the United States
government receives from the sale Of
land is insignificant in comparison
with the value to the country Of
sturdy settlers. The settlement laws
do not provide for an exchange of
something for nothing. but a trans
action of mutual benefit. The man
who can till the soil is given place
for a home for himself and his fam
lily. In return he draws from the soil
crops which swell the agricultural
wealth Of the country, which cause
commerce and manufacturers to
/ flourish q. and which sIfsnorf an I'm