Year: 1879

BILL.


IT PASSES THE HOUSE ON TIE 18TH
LET THE SETTLERS Follow UP


THE COOP Work PROMPT
LY WITH PETITIONS.


Elsewhere viii be found the full text


of the bill for the relief of the settlers


upon the Usage Trust and Diminished


Reserve lands.


Our industrious and successful mem.


Der of Congress has been adding SO


many victorious plumes to his political


chapcau of late that we can hardly keep


run of them. Very few had any idea


that he would succeed with the bill, and
all the more praise is his due.


The bill is extremely favorable to the
settlers, being without precedent.
The last law extending relief to the set
tiers ordained that no future relief
should be granted by Congress.


Our Senators will find it difficult.
probably, to get the bill through tie
Senate. The EAGLE suggests that the
settlers should promptly petition the
Senate to pass it, as such petitions will
greatly aid them in the fight.


In speaking of the scope and import
ance of this important measure the
Washington correspondent Of the Atch-
ison Champion says:


Much TO Mr.Ryan's surprise and graf
he has succeeded in securing
the passage by the House of his bill for
the relief Of the settlers on the Usage
lands. and that in shape much better
than he had anticipated, and considera-
bly, more liberal than the original bill.
which was widely published soon after
its introduction. The Usage lands. as
is well known, are comprised within a
vast territory extending westward from
Wllsop and Montgomery counties about
two hundred miles with a width of fifty
miles. The lands have been in market
for seven or eight years, but very
large quantity Of them still remain un-
sold. In former years two several acts
have been passed by Congress for the
relief of defaulting settlers upon these
lands, but the extension of time for
payment was short in each instance, and
the settlers were required TO pay five
per cent. interest from date of default.
Under the existing law the settlers must
pay the whole of the purchase money
within one year after settlement. or.
failing, they forfeit their claims and all
right TO ever again enter any of the
public lands under the homestead or
laws. \ very large number
now occupying these lands are in default
md have incurred such forfeiture. To
I'll such Mr.. Ryan's bill allows a period
Of at least five months Git may be more.
but cannot be less) in which TO make "A
payment, and il provides for
Ihe payment of the remainder in three
,qual installments, without interest. IL
ilso gives to persons who hereafter pur-
,hase these lands the right to pay one
fourth Of the purchase money at the
lime of entry, and the balance in three
equal annual payments without interest
Il default be made in any payment, the
settler is given from three months to
,ne year of grace before final foreclosure.
The lands are made taxable after the
irst payment, which is simple justice
Hike To the State and local governments
md TO those settlers upon the lands who
lavc made their payments and secured
heir titles. Ii would be unjust that IA
portion OF the people should
De relieved from any share of the public
burdens in consequence of their own de-
"a IiIf Vhts hill IL lil,nf.al d.
he settlers and just towards taxpayers
If the State than any other law referring
o the disposition of Indian lands ever
passed by Congress. Under such laws
Is this il is probable that the lands now
unsold will rapidly be taken.
{ would seem that even human selfish
less could hardly have the impudencc TO
'sk for any thing more generous than
his on the part of the government. But
here are people who do this very thing.


have even heard of cases where default
No settlers have demanded that they be
permitted TO enter these lands under
he homestead law. in utter ignorance
n amazing contempt Of the fact that
hey never were public lands. never be-
onged TO the government. but are held
n trust for the Indians under treaty
which stipulatcs that they shall not be
old for less than dollar and a quarter
yer acre. do not believe that there
ver has been an instance of the settle
nent of an Indian reservation in which


considerable proportion Of the settlers
ave moi gone on the lands with an ex-
'ectation of getting them for nothing in
ne way or another, and this, no matte.
low plainly the pro, isions of the law or
reaty negativcd any hope of the kind.
I is 10 be hoped that our Senators will
ec TO it that this bill is considered and
'assed ut the earliest possible moment.
I may not be practicable to get it
hrough before next winter. but 10 pos
ible effort should be spared