New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-08-10
WALTON MAKES LAST
STAND FOR FALL BILL

Congressman w. B. Walton, who
has made creditable fight for the
Fall amendment in the House. ever
since the matter came up made his
last stand in the losing fight on
Tuesday, when he spoke on the in
justice being done New Mexico and
other western states as follows:
"Mr. Speaker, regret exceedingly
that the conferees on this bill have
seen fit to strike out the so-called
Fall amendment relative to the class
ification of lands under the stock
raising homestead act, without al
fording some relief to the applicants
for homesteads under that act.
I'm New Mexico practically every
acre of the unappropriated public
domain is subject to entry under
that act. There are now pending
in New Mexico more than 5000 en-
tries, the majority of them original
applications When the so-called
640-acre homestead act was passed
by Congress, home seekers came in
to New Mexico from others states,
bringing their families and their
possessions with them. thinking that
the land referred to in the law was
Immediately available. They are
there yet, anxiously waiting fo re
liei and suffering hardship and pri-
vation as result of the long delay
to which they have been subjected,
an my opinion, Mr.. Speaker, an
amendment to this bill providing for
the immediate classification of these
lands is strictly and essentially a
part of the scheme of increased food
production which is the aid of this
bill, for it is not yet too late to
plant and raise dry farming and bean
crops in the state which / represent.
do not suppose that anything that
may say at this time will have any
effect on the action of the house,
but | deem it my duty to call at
tention to the injustice that has been
and is being done to the people of
New Mexico and to express my re-
gret that advantage has not been
taken of the opportunity to give re-
lief to honest and deserving home
seekers and home-bu1ders.
However, Mr.. Speaker, it is not
my intention to do or say anything
which by any possibility could fur
ther delay action on this bill. / re-
alize that there is an urgent de-
mand on the part OF the people of
the entire country that something
be done and done at once-a feeling
that Congress has already wasted
valuable time in a matter that vital
ly affects the personal interests of
every man, woman and child in the
United States. I believe that there
is some justification for this feeling,
and speaking for the people of New
Mexico I say that it is better that
we should suffer injustice little
longer, waiting for the right to pre-
vaf in the end. as it surely will. than
that we should have any part in
further delaying the passage of a
measure that is imperatively needed
for the relief of more than hun
dred million American citizens"
There is little doubt in the minds
of thousands of people in New Mex
ico, hut what the Fall amendment
would have passed had Senator Jones
rendered any genuine and sincere
assistance 20 Fall and Walton IN
their fight for the settlers. His for
mcr connection and permit Influence
with the Interior Department. r'acc
him in a position to have overcome
the objections had he reallv hcrH a
loyal supporter OF the amendment.