The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1914-03-11
RIGHTS OF ENTRYMEN

According to a recent dispatch from
Washington, the right Of the entry
man of public lands to a trial OF MS
case in a court of law. long advocated
nv a few western members or con-
gress. is being recognized. Some OF
the earlier advocates of such a plan
were given scant courtesy, but I'M
uuestionably strong sentiment look
ing toward such legislation has de-
yeloped, and some of the more optim-
istic predict that within the next few
years the public entryman will have
the right to appeal to a court OF law
as a final effort in adjudicating his
rights.
One of the most notable converts
to this plan is Representative Scott
Ferris, now chairman of the house
committee on public lands, and his
recently expressed sentiments on the
question have served to call attention
to the capitalization of sentiment
along this line. In a speech on the
subject of public land administration
Representative Ferris said:
"Our land laws are in many re-
spects crude. irreconcilable. inetti-
cient, without uniformity. confusing
to the Interpretation by the layman-
a jargon of inconsistencies %retarding
progress and development. Most OF
our so-called land laws are not land
laws at all, but are simply a jargon
of executive orders. rulings and in
t~erpretations and decisions made by
different bureau chiefs and clerks In
the qualifications of the various bu-
reaus of the interior department. For
example, within my short service in
congress we have tried four different
secretaries of the interior. The views
of these four men have differed in
policy, on questions of law, on ques-
lions of construction-while the poor
confused homesteaders and miners
suffered from the ever-changing and
conflicting views Of those who ruled
over them to al extent almost great
er than they could bear"
In a notable speech on the admin
istration of the public land laws de-
livered near the close of the Sixty
second congress, Representative Haw'
ley of Oregon, in support of his bill
granting entrymen the right of ap'
peal to a court of law, said:
1.-THE rights of an entryman are as
susceptible of proof as any other
right to property, and he should have
the same protection in his rights as
any owner Of property, where acquir
ed by his exertions and in a legal way
He should not be deprived of his en-
try without due process of law-tha
is, after due process in the courts
The entryman, during the period be
fore which he can prove up on hi
entry, does a great deal of labor whicl
has a distinct monetary value, ant
expends certain sums in improve
ment. These things being done upol
an implied agreement offered in tn
law should give him a property RICH
or interest in the land, and, in cast o
dispute, it should be ascertained b,
the courts"
A number of bills giving the settle
this right have been introduced il
both senate and house. The strone
est opposition always comes from til
interior department, which holds tina
the settler acquires no propert
rights until he can show full compl
ance with the laws and regulation:
OF course, the enactment of such les
~islation would deprive the interior d.
partment of the greater portion {
it's present occupation, and greatly n
duce the Importance of that depar
ment.