Source: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/231/157.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 17:09:06+00:00

Document:
[231 U.S. 157, 158] Messrs. Fred M. Dudley, W. E. Cullen, and David Herman for appellant.
This is a bill to quiet title, alleging that the plaintiff, a married man, made entry and acquired title to the land in question under the homestead laws of the United States by patent issued December 17, 1903; that thereafter his wife died, and that the defendants, the children of the marriage, claim an interest in the land. By the laws of the state of Washington, in which the property is situated, it became community property unless the statutes of the United States Forbid. Teynor v. Heible, 74 Wash. 222, 46 L.R.A. (N. S.) 1033, 133 Pac. 1. On that point we follow the Washington decisions. There was a demurrer, which was sustained by the district court (sub nom. Buchser v. Morss, 196 Fed. 577), and by the circuit court of appeals (121 C. C. A. 212, 202 Fed. 854).
There is no doubt, of course, that until the title is completed the laws of the United States control. Wadkins v. Producers Oil Co. 227 U.S. 368 , 57 L. ed. 551, 33 Sup. Ct. Rep. 380; Bernier v. Bernier, 147 U.S. 242 , 37 L. ed. 152, 13 Sup. Ct. Rep. 244; Hall v. Russell, 101 U.S. 503 , 25 L. ed. 829; Gibson v. Chouteau, 13 Wall. 92, 20 L. ed. 534. But when the title has passed, then the land 'like all other property in the state is subject to state legislation.' Wilcox v. Jackson, 13 Pet. 498, 517, 10 L. ed. 264, 273; Irvine v. Marshall, 20 How. 558, 564, 15 L. ed. 994, 997; McCune v. Essig, 199 U.S. 382, 390 , 50 S. L. ed. 237, 241, 26 Sup. Ct. Rep. 78. If the United States could impress a peculiar character upon land within a state after parting with all title to it, at least the clearest expression would be necessary before such a result could be reached. Wright v. Morgan, 191 U.S. 55, 58 , 48 S. L. ed. 89, 93, 24 Sup. Ct. Rep. 6. But it has not tried to do anything of the sort.

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