The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-06-08
PROSECUTING THE SETTLERS.

"A vigorous protest against the per-
secution of settlers by agents of the
interior department a made in con-
gress q few days ago by Representa-
tive Mondell, of Wyoming, who ap-
parently has ultima { knowledge of
the pernicious methods that cause un.
necessary expense and trouble to the
homesteader. The fraudulent acqui-
sition of the public domain by specu-
lstors and land grabbers should be
prevented by every mean at com.
mand, but q resort to technicalities to
deprive the settler of q claim he has
honestly earned is an exhibit of vigi.
lance on the part of federal employees
that does not merit commentator.
Representative Mondell objected to
an appropriation of $3.50, 600 with
which to pay salaries and expenses of
especial agents" of the general land
Office, explaining his opposition in
these remarks:
1.-THE appropriation for special
agents two years ago was increased
from $3.50. 600 to $500, 900 on the repre-.
s~entation that the increase was needed
to clean up pending contests and ex.
pedite the issuance of patents. A year
later sensational charges of wholesale
fraud we're made and the land Office
asked and received $1,000. 900 for spe.
cial agents. Thirty thousand cases
were said to be pending at that time.
The land Office now reports that 81, 900
cases have been cleared up, but that
$4,000 cases are still pending, which
means that the special agents them.
selves have created SO, 900 cases dur.
ing the past two years and that g..
GOO, 600 appropriated last year has
reduced the pending cases but 1000.
ut is notorious that many special
agents are over. Jealous and have
sought to perpetual their term of
employment by creating new cases to
investigate, many Of them necessarily
trivial and serving only by investiga.
ton to put settlers to expense and
embarrassment. Instead of the addi-
tional appropriation clearing up bust
ness, thus e%xpediting patents, it has
created a system of examining every
entry by special agents at a large ex-
pense to the government and without
corresponding protection to the public
domain
A number of residents of northern
Montana have cause for resentment
against the methods described by the
Wyoming congressman. In several
instances every effort had been made
to comply strictly with the letter of
the law, but a special agent sleuth
detected a flaw in the work of the set.
tier, made adverse report against the
issuance of a patent, and the settler
was burdened with an expensive law
suit to protect himself from loss OF
property he had fairly earned.
Lack of GUILTY. alton on a fractional
part of the area required by law is
frequently the basis of a contest insti.
gated by these special agents. In
some cases the settler has constructed
a reservoir and bitches, but seasons
of drouth have made them useless for
irrigation. affording the special agent
another opportunity to demonstrate
that he is doing something to carr his
salary.
The settler, unfortunately, is some.
times unable to bear the expense of a
lawsuit to protect his rights, and
Judgment goes against him by default
"a result that gives a credit mark to
the alleged vigilance of his persecu.
tor. Liberal treatment for the settler
is the better policy in the administra-
tion of the public domain. The bona
ide home builder should be eucour.
aged in his efforts to add to the wealth
of the community, and special agents
be instructed in the principles of the
"Golden Rule"