The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-05-21
ismith's Bill Reported

Com1A ttee en- Public Lands of the
House has favorably considered the
bill introduced by Representative
Smith of Idaho giving preference
right of entry to prospective appli-
cants applying for the designs alton of
land for entry under tho enlarged
homestead act, and has authorized
Representative French, who is a
member of the Committee, to make
the report to the House.
This is one of the first bills intro
duced by Representative Smith al
the opening of the present. Congress
and he has been active in creating sen
timent in it's favor. Under the exist
ing law those who seek out desirable
locations and make applications to
have the land designated for entry
under the enlarged homestead act
have no assurance that they can en-.
ter the land in the event it is thrown
open to entry, as a stranger who first
reaches the land office could enter
although he may have expended no
time or expense in having the land
designated.
The proposed law does not dis
turb the present method of making
application to have land designated
but simply protects those who take
hn init in hAv h.
chance to make an entry On the land
selected.
French Will Not Abandon Race
An Idaho story that Congressman
French will abandon his race for
United States Senator has just
reached Washington and was prompt
ly refuted by Mr.. French Mr.. French
said:
please say that there is not the
slightest foundation for the story
that / will not be candidate for
United States Genator This story
has doubtless been published innocent
ly but was probably started deliber
ately by the Bureau that appears to La
working over time in trying to mis-
Eapresent me before the people Of
Idaho.
"Since made my announcement the
assurances of support from all over
the state have been SO Overwhelming
that l believe shall be nominated
for United States Senator"
+ + +
Senator Brady Highly Honored
When a committee of seven sena
tors was appointed last week from the
United States Senate to accompany
President Wilson to New York to pay
the nations tribute of sympathy to
the 10 marines and sailors who lost
their lives at Vera Cruz, Idahos jun
ior senator had the distinction of be-
Ing named member Of that com
mittee A like committee was ap-
pointed from the House of Represen-
t34ives.
4 !. +
Senatorial Election Bill Passed
The House has passed the Senate
bill designed to furnish a temporary
means of electing United States sena-
tors by popular vote in those states
whose legislatures have SO far failed
to put into effect the direct primary
elections law.
The bill is now ready for the sigma
ture of the President. The plan pro
vided is similar to that utilized TO"
the election of representatives at large
lin Congress.
Representative French and other
members of the Public Lands Com
mittee reported yesterday bill by
the Chairman authorizing homestead.
ters upon Indian Reservations who
tmay have purchased their lands, to
make a second homestead entry, and
the bill will be placed upon the House
Calendar at once.
There is no reason why Congress,
at the present session, should not
take up and pass a rural credits bill,
declares Senator James H. Brady Of
Idaho, who is one of the foremost ad-
vocates of this particular bit of legis-
lation. THE action of the caucus of
the democrats of the House of Repre-
sentatives in refusing to grant this
bill consideration this session. con-
tinued 1.-THE Senator, "is without justi-
fication, and is in violation OF the
pledge given not only by the Presi-
dent but by democratic leaders in
Congress. The rural credits section
of the currency bill, recently enacted,
was eliminated by common consent
when the promise was made by demo
cratic leaders that a separate rural
credits hill would ba framed and