Imperial Valley press., 1910-01-15
Asks Them To Await Its "Vig- orous" Methods of Set
 tling Difficulties
Reasons of Demand For Clear Defi- nition of Rights of RecIaimers of Desert Set Forth in Letter to Sen ator Flint-No Protection to Fraud Contemplated.

It is apparent that the chief ob- stacle to the passage of any bill to protect actual reclaimers of desert lands and repair the numerous errors of the Land Office will be encountered in the inability of the Commissioner of the General Land Office to compre- bend the land laws and his ignorance of the situation created by the errors and delays of the department in deal ing with questions arising in the Im- perial Valley.
 Senator Flint, who advised that the most effective and practible cure for the land ills of this valley would be a measure for protection of the inno- cent purchaser of assigned entries. and who seemed to have no doubt that such a bill could be passed readily, bumped up against the Beotians of the General Land Office on his first move, as indicated plainly by the following letter:
 UNITED STATES SENATE December 30, 1909. My Dear Kelly:
 Yours of December 22nd, inclosng draft of bill for the relief of the set tiers of Imperial Valley, duly received.
 I have discussed this matter with the Commissioner of the General Land Of- ice and he requested that no action be taken in reference to legislation along the lines suggested until certain eases now being tried in the federal court of Los Angeles have been completed. It is then the intention of the Department to take up in vigorous way the settle ment of the controversies in the valley. They are in hopes this can be accom- plished without further legislation, but, if not l am sure the Department will give it's active support to legislation that will bring about the results you desire.
 As it would be impossible to pass bill that met with the opposition of the Interior Department l suggest that no acton be taken until the early part of the year and the Department has had an opportunity of further considering the matter. I
 l would be glad to have your views in reference to this matter.
 Yours truly,
 FRANK P. FLINT.
 The following statement of person al views of the subject has been sent to the Senator:
 Fl Centro, Jan. 6, 1910.- Senator Frank P Flint,
 Washington, D. c.
 Dear Senator:
 Your letter of Dec 30, explaining the first difficulty you have encoun- tered in securing for the settlers of this desert region some measure of relief from the harassment of specu- lative and blackmail contests, is less surprising than disappointing. It is not surprising that the commissioner, who never has shown any capacity for understanding the situation, should desire that nothing be done to simpli- fly the problem of vesting title to re- claimed desert land in the persons who have done the work and fulfilled the fundamental purpose of the land law.
 Legislative relief is necessary be- cause the Departments alleged wig orous way" of settling land questions has produced so far only confusion and tangles of legal contradictions. It's vigorous" adjustment of defec- tive survey has dragged through sev- en years and is not yet complete. Most of the difficulties confronting the peo- pie of this valley can be traced to the vacillating policies and practices of the Land Office, aggravated by the neglect of commissioners to investi- gate for themselves and their refusal to accept the reports and recommen- dations of their own agents.
 It is because there is no hope of substantial relief from the Land Of flee, while the law remains obscure or subject to varying construction, that the people ask for help from Con gross, being yet simple enough to im- agine that Congress, and not bur eau of administrative clerks, is the legislative branch of this government,
 I do not see that this bill has any bearing on the criminal cases now on trial in Los Angeles, but if law yer can find any relation between them 1t would seem to be possible to re- lieve the apprehensions of the De- partment by adding a provision to the effect that the amendment does