Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-01-29
wEDKLY.
TUESDAY. JANUARY 20. 1907.
THE PRESIDENTS HOMESTEAD
ORDER.

In his desire to further safeguard
the public domain the president has
sent the following letter to Secretary
Hitchcock. relative to the issuance OF
final receipts and patents
"The Secretary OF the Interior To
prevent the fraud now practiced In
the acquisition of public lands of the |
United States have to direct that |
hereafter no final certificate, patent or /
other evidence of title shall be issued |
under the public land law until an ac-
tual examination has been made upon
the ground by or for an authorized
officer OF the government but the fol-
lowing shall be excepted from the force
Of this order.
Il. All claims which have hereto-
fore sbeen examined upon the ground
BY an authorized official of the govern
nnent whose report IS found satisfac-
tory
e. All claims where an officer of
the government other than officers au-
thorized to take final proof shall have
been present at the taking Of the final
proof to crossexamine the claimant and
Witnesses. II such proof Is bund salts
actor.
"3. All claims where claimants
compliance with THE law has been es-
tablished by contest Or ether regular
proceeding.
"a Entries which may have been
confirmed by virtue bf an act Of con-
gress
IS. Selection and entries where no
residence or Improvement is required
by law when the lands embraced are
character has been fixed by invests
CATION and classification made in ac,-
corlanee With law
80 Cases of re-issuanee OF patents
beeanse Of some clerical error occur
ring in the patents HERETOFORE issued,
q. All Indian ailotptents whies
have been regularly anportioned IL
accordance With the fnstruetions 0
the secretary OF Inf itlkFflets
"You will issue all necessary in
struct'ons % cary this order into eff
feet.
..rhis or'er IS In lien o. my order Q
December H. 1908.
assigned,
sTHEoDoRE ROOSEVELT
The wisdom OF this order would No
be doubted were it not that 1t wi
work unnecessary harashirs upo
thousands of Observation-Disclosures fe
the reason that months, perhaps year
may elapsc before the examination
which the order calls Cor may or ca
be made.
It may be truthfully said in;
there have been fewer frauds perp.
trated upon the interior departmel
by homestaa6iers. than by any 9th
class of entrymen
Few men have the courage at tn
day with all its rapid gain. to go o
into the wilderness, or upon the drea,
wastes or burning sands. to settle u
on a quarter section of public la,
unless It be for the sole purpose
securing for themselves IA permane
home They go and settle upon t
Hand as honest citizens: to live up,
It; improve it cultivate It, and to ca
an honest living and IT will be fou
IN ninety-nine cases out of evry o
hundred they have obeved the lett
and the spirit of the law
1t may be that among entrymen
other lands some may be found tn
have secured lands fraudulently
is also true that certain corporate
are the possessors of vast bodies
valuable lands that could never ha
been theirs had the present laws be
enforced. but though this be true
Is no reason why honest homestead,
should be compelled to wait for
government to recognize their rigl
and title after they have fulfilled tn
part OF the agreement.
Instead of making more string
the laws pertaining the securing
homesteads. there should be an eff
made looking towards the posibil
of making It easier for those who I