Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-05-27
MYERSF|GHT5
FOR SET Tiers
At FORT PECK
Would Forestall Action
Against Those in Ar
rears on Homesteads.
Declares Drouth Makes
Relief Necessary or
Many May Lose Land.
Special to The Tribune.

Special to The Tribune.
Washington, May Ex-senator n t.
Myers introduced resolution in tho
United States senate Thursday proyid-
ing protection to homesteaders on the
Fort Peck Indian reservation from ac-
ton by the government against them on
account of arrears.
1t provides that within one year from.
enactment of the resolution when any
homestead entryman or entrywoman
on the reservation may file with the
register and receiver of the United
states land office at Glasgow an affi-
davlt setting forth that he or she is in
arrears a certain sum, to be stated. on
account of. principal, interest or both.
and is unable to pay the same or any
part, relief shall be afforded
All action and processes of the
United states government" it is pro.
vlded. and all of it's officials in re]a.
ton thereto. shall be stayed and with.
ne!d and all operations of all laws ap-
pilcabie to payments of money and to
forfeitures and penalties in such eases
heretofore made and provided and now
IN force, shall be suspended and held in
aoeyance. to the affiant and his or her
homestead entry, for period OF one
year from and after the passage and
approval of this resolution.
Suspend Them for .Nsar.
"At the end Of each year All .neh
laws shall again be in full force ana
effect, In all cases. matters and fh;nrs
Wnere applicable, as II not BY virtue |
hereof suspended and held in Allowance
ana during such period of suspension /
al sums OF money, whether principal
Or interest or both, due to the United |,
States and unpaid BY any such home
steader, ON account Of his or her home
stead entry. shall bear interest uDon
the whole amount SO due and unpaid.
whether principal or interest, or both
at the rate Of per cent per annum.
70 De paid when such deferred nav
m mehts may become payable: it being /;
Tue intention OF this resolution, in ali
cases p instances where such affiduyjts
may .e SO made and filed, to defer all
acuon IN the premises for period of
one year from and after the MASSAGE
and approval thereof and then to ree
apply all existing laws now apnhcahie
thereto. as if they had not been sus.
pended, requiring the beneficiary of :
snch suspensions to pay interest Mt /.
lne aforesaid rate upon all deferred /
payments, as a consideration for such
extension of time for payment" =
Necessary From Drouth. r
In the preamble of his resolution {
senator Myers explained how tha v
lrouth made the measure necessorr
lie said There has been an unnrecs.
lented drouth, causing almost toto1
allure of all crops. each year. for fn,r
uccessive years last past. On tha
portions of the Fort pe.l
indian reservation. in Montana. whara
lere are great number of Homestead
rs who entered government land ~ ~
ppraised price and who are now, in ! .
onsequence Of such drouth (such ~ !.
hem as are left there), in poyer,p u u
ainly struggling under adverse ana "a "a
arrowing conditions, in desperate Of. >, >,
,rt to save from total loss all thev -
ave paid on their homesteads and ali :,
ley have. :" 3.
MANY such homesteaders are now = :.
! arrears with the United States goy- IL
rnment, on account of non-payment of -
rincipal or interest or both, due or ~
ast due and unpaid, and are unable n
, pay any part thereof and in conse th
renee, under existing law, are about ! 10
forfeit all rights in and to their
,mestead entries and to lose all time. fn
Dor and money expended on their IL
claims and, as a result, are nc
'out to be evicted therefrom. NJ NJ
This is a public calamity and a most ar
condition of affairs, with III
, relief possible, save by action of
ngresS" y,