Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1907-02-28

WHICH ne HAS SstCIlHNG0 AuoSA AssSSe
and several of the best years OF his
| life. Instead of the calm, judicial pro-
ccedings that take place when the
| title to decided land is questioned, the
methods in connection with the set
| ting OF a title TO homestead are one
| sided and unfair to the claimant, who
| is in almost every case too poor to APP
| peal against an unjust decision and
await-perhaps for years-a final de-
cision as to his rights. After the pa
pers are sent to the district land-office
il may happen that the mighty inspec-
tor decides that the proof should be
held up. The papers are thereupon
sent TO Washington, and it may be
two years, or even longer time, pc
fore they are finally passed upon by
| the general land Office. In the mean
time the disheartened and bewildered
settler is left entirely at sea as to
whether he is to keep his home or lose
| it, He has made many improvements,
| and would like TO make more, but he
| does not want to eXpend much time or
labor on land that may be taken away
from him. Possibly he wants to bOr-
row sum of money on his land with
which to purchase team OF horses or
a small bunch of cattle or sheep. But
he cannot do so. The circumlOcutiOn
Office at Washington has him in its
hopper, and he doesn't know whether
he owns his home or whether it will
eventually be taken from him. know
of ho more unhappy condition in life
than that of the man or woman who,
after spending all the money he or
she has in improving a claim, finds
| after proof is made that some merci-
less inspector has caused such proof
To be held up and fed into the hopper
of tho red-tape mill at Washington.
And the worst of it al! is that the
whole system of suspicion and outrage
is wholly unnecessary. The attempt
is being made to lock the stable door
/ dltSt tue uOIS sc IDS DSCA StOlCA lACIC
| was a time as every old settler in
thes parts knows, when the govern
| met didn't seem 10 attach much value
| to its land in these parts, and took
not the least trouble to see that the
laws were complied with in obtaining
| title to it, In those days there was,
i hut
not a majority. by any means-some
tall swearing done in securing title to
government land But that condition
is thing of the past. The land in
the hands of homesteaders in these
parts, and upon which final proof has
been made, is now of such largely
Increased value that no entryman dare
take the risk of not acting in good
faith in complying with the land laws.
He knows that if he does not do so it
will be contested, for there are in
every community persons who have
not exercised their right to take a
homestead. and who would quickly act
Il 0SdAASl any Cldllldllt WHO Wis uGTellCI
in complying with the law. Any pos
sible violation of the homestead stat
utes now quickly brings its remedy
and punishment through the medium
of a contest
The whole homestead situation was
talked over by members of senate and
house. and all agreed that the pres
ent method OF procedure by the gen
eral land Office is intoerable, and that
bly, may possess should be used for
having the unjust features remedied.
To this end a resolution was intro
duced by Representative Chapman, of
Williams county for the appointment
OF committee TO prepare concur
rent resolution for submission to the
house. The speaker appointed Messrs
Pugh, Streeter and Martin, of Billings
as such committee. Strong resolu-
tions were prepared, and they passed
the house unanimously. They will UNI
doubleday meet with as hearty an in
dorsement in the senate. And it is
hoped that they will have considerable
influence in aiding the enthusiastic
movement now being made by western
senator's and members of the house at
Washington to overthrow the present
roush-shod method of dealing with the
helpless homesteaders in the terrific
ries and the newer states.
DR. S.