The Bad River news. [volume] (Philip, Stanley County, S.D.) 19??-1912, 1911-12-07
OUR WASHINGTON NEWS LETTER
Gossip From the National Cap.
ital---Edison's New Inven-
ton will Greatly Aid
Politicians
Special To The News


There is a real roar going up
from the western congressman
against the OVERRIDING of conser-
vation business by the general land
office, and while there are no
members of congress but who fa-
vOr it's honest enforcement of the
laws in reference to the public do
main, yet there is strong feeling
among the representatives who
come from states where there is a
large amount of homestead land
that the obstacles being put in the
way of honest homesteaders have
resulted in great many cases al
most to persecution. The South
Dakota delegation in both Houses
are hot.foOt after the evil, and
Congressman Burke declares that
all these isms under the head of
conservation, resulting in the
wholesale withdrawal of lands, on
account of their alleged mineral
value, as for instance in the Lem
on district, and in the policy of
the lard department in nagging
homestead settlers by the filing of
protests against their entries, and
interfering with their just rights,
has been carried to such an extent
as to amount to nothing short of
outrageous" Congressman Mar
tin from the same state believes
that the subject of fraud has been
greatly over-world," and that as
result the field force of the land
Office has become timid in even
doing justice to honest homestead
ers. for fear of criticism, resulting
in the vicious custom of charges
being filed against honest home
steaders, whether there is any
basis for it or not. Mr.. Martin
introduced bill late in the special
session, which will be pressed at
an early date, to facilitate prompt
action on final proof on homestead
entries either upon protests or
any other good and sufficient rea-
son. The bill provides that hear
ings shall be given the homesteader
within three months, and that
within thirty days after suspension
he shall be served with notice stat
ing the grounds thereof. Repre-
sentatives from other states are
quite as emphatic as the South
Dakota delegation, who are by no
means among the principal suffer
ers. One member spoke of the
matter as eastern sentiment
prompted by theorists and featur-
ed by ck-rakers in the name If
conservation, n,-but far apart from
the name," as being at the bottom
of all the homesteaders troubles
being felt in so many western
states.
Who will be president protein of
the senateY All through the spec
ial session it was impossible to set
tie the question, as the progressive
republicans supported the objec-
tions of Senator LaFolIette against
Senator Gallinger, of New Hamp-
shire. who was the choice of the
regular republican organization to
succeed the late Senator Hale.
Senator Clapp of Minnesota, re-
ceived the support of the progress
sive senators, but there is no pro-
liability of his election. A mum,
ber of compromise suggestions
have been made, but the only
name brought forward that seems
at all probable of being acceptable
all round is Senator Nelson, of
Minnesota, who is decidedly reg
ular most of the time, and as Wig.
orously insurgent on occasions as
the specialists in that line. Every
senator personally admires the
stolid gentleman from Minnesota,
and the compromise may settle
him.
Representative Martin is leading
the movement among the South