The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1909-12-11
c0MMUrATl0M Law BAD
RECOMMENDS ITS REPEAL

AHo dnAudA report Ol rFeQ bennett.
commissioner of the general land office.
will be of interest especially in the west
where the subject OF public lands is of
great interest. Mr.. bennett recommends
the repeal of the Communication laws, or
the increase of time from IA months to
three years. and the consolidation of the
Office of register and receiver of local
land Offices. Three paragraphs of his
reports are as follows:
COMMUTATlON LAW.
The communication clause of the home-
stead law should be either repealed or
the time in which communication proof can
be made extended from fourteen months
to three years. The object OF the govern
ment is to obtain settlement on the
public lands of the United States and
homes thereon. and not merely to relieve
itself of the ownership of the remaining
area of the public domain. With the
increased demand for homes incident to
the increase in population. greater care
should be taken with the remaining
acreage, and the public domain should
be kept for those only who desire to
make home. The law should also be
changed so that no man can prove up
unless he has become full citizen of
the United States. Instances have been
called 10 my attention where foreigner
has declared his intention to become
citizen, made entry upon public land,
proved up under the Communication clause
of the homestead law. mortgaged the
land. and then deserted this country 10
return to that from which he came with
out having lost his citizenship therein.
The few remaining acres of the public
domain are entirely too precious. and
there are too many American citizens
who desire homes thereon. for the
government to continue 10 render it
possible tor a foreigner to acquire title
before he has become citizen and with
out any intention of so doing.
CONSOLIDATION OF OFFICE.
Better administration would be secured
in the local land Offices if the, positions
of register and receiver were abolished
and one position of administrator were
created. There is friction between the
register and receiver in many localities.
While duties of the two officers could be
easily defined by law. yet they are both
required 10 sign decisions and in other
ways occupy positions of equal weight
and importance. In view of the fact
that decisions in all cases are appeal
able to the commissioner; and from the
commissioned to the secretary, there is
no necessity for dual supervision of all
records. In fact it will be found that,
as general things, one officer or the
other signs as mere perfunctory
matter. In addition to this, by the
substitution of clerk who should be
bonded and under the direct supervision
of the commissioner of the general land
Office. and who should be intrusted with
the care and receipt of the moneys, from
$50. 600 to $500, 600 a year could be saved
the government. The salary of the
receiver and of the register is So, 900,
each. In the large offices a-good and
efficient clerk could be secured for the
purpose of accounting for the moneys
received, at salary of 81. 900. less
sum to be paid where the Office is not
maximum in it's work. In this way the
United States would save large sum
each year. and the work would be per-
formed in manner more satisfactory
than at present, and dual authority and
constant conflic ts avoided.