The daily sentinel., 1908-01-27
GARFIELD IS
AGAINST IT
NO 32O-ACRE HOMESTEAD
Should be Provided for Says CarfeA-The
Second Entry Bill Is Alnsst Certain to
Pass-What Interis Secretary Says.

James R. Garfield, secretary of the
Interior. refuses to approve Repre-
sentative Mondell's bill to enlarge
homestead entry acreage to 800
acres. He returned the bill to the
committee Saturday. In his report
Secretary Garfield says in part:
"This department Is not prepared
to recommend a homestead entry of
SO extended an area at this time.
There are doubtless areas in certain
localities within which peculiar con-
ditions would Justify 320 acre en-
tries. but in my Judgment, there are
areas that cannot now be sufficiently
identified to warrant such legisla-
ton. Rapidly increasing demand for
Investments and homes on public do
main is fast consuming available
lands, nearly 21.O00.00O acres hav-
ing been disposed of during the last
year.
Under these circumstances I am
constrained to withhold favorable
recommendation for the passage of
this bill"
Speaking of Secretary Garfield's s
report Mr.. Mondell said ',at it is a
rather curious position when 1t is
considered that President Roosevelt
in his message called attention to the
fact that a farm of 1G0 acres in arid
regions is inadequate for self-sup-
port, and that Land Commissioner
Balloinger. in his annual report, rec
commended that homesteads should
be increased to $40 acres. Continu-
ing, he said:
Mondell Replies to Garfield.
while 1t Is true. as the secretary
states in his letter, that consider
able amount of homesteading is be-
ing done, 1t is also true that in al
most every instance the homesteader
In the semi-arid region is protesting
against the small acreage of his
homestead, and it is further true
that while the area of lands upon
which original entries are made an
nually Is quite large, the proportion
of this area upon which final proof is
made and patent obtained is con-
stantly growing smaller. indicating
increasing difficulty of complying
with the law and securing title and
increasing dissatisfaction of entry
men. particularly under the home
stead law, with the limited area they
can obtain an increasing number of
cases in which they become discour-
aged and abandon their attempts to
secure a home on the public lands.
| me seCTeldTy Suggestion tnlt
the class of lands intended to be In
cluded in this act will be difficult to
identify is not well grounded for 1t
would not be difficult to identify
n-mineral, non-timbered or timber
ed non-irrlgable lands"
Mr.. Mondell will modify his bill
in slight particulars and press 1t with
Il view to passage, regardless of tho
lack of Endorsement by the Interior
department.
Will Recommend Second Entry.
The conference committee which
has been considering the second
homestead entry bills passed by the
house and senate. today reached an
agreement and will report the bill as
Originally introduced by Representa-
tive Mondell with a slight amend
ment. As reported by the confer
ence committee, the act will provide
that any person who has lost. for
feited. or abandoned homestead en-
try shall be entitled to the benefits
OF the homestead act as though the
former entry had not been made,
provided the former entry was not
cancelled for fraud. or relinquishcd
for valuable consideration.