Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1886 — Judge Payson’s Laud Bill. [ARTICLE]

Judge Payson’s Laud Bill.

[Washington special.] Judge Payson’s land bill, passed by the House of Representatives, repealing tbe preemption, desert-land, and timber-culture laws and amending the commutation provision of the homestead law, after providing for the repeal of the pre-emption law allows bona fiije claims to be perfected, and also permits a second homestead entry in lieu of the pre-emption privilege to any person who has not had the benefit of pre-emption and who has failed from any cause except by sale or disposal of his right thereto to perfect title to a tract of land heretofore entered by him. The second section, in repealing the timber-culture act, makes provision for perfecting bona-fide claims lawfully initiated before the passage of the act. Section 3 amends the homestead act by allowing the minimum price for the quantity 6,1 land entered to be paid at any time after the expiration of thirty calendar months from the date of entry, the proof of actual settlement to be filed six months prior to the application for patent. Section 4, in repealing the desert-land act, makes the usual reservation for completing lawfully entered claims. The fifth section Withdraws from public sale and * private entry all lands except isolated and disconnected fractional parts, mineral lands, and others of a local nature. Section 6 preserves the right to transfer portions of the settler’s entry under homestead or preemption for church, cemetery, or school purposes, or right of way for railroads.' Judge Payson says the repeal will not affect the right of soldiers to the public lands in any way. Their right is under the homestead law, which is simply amended so as to increase the time of commutation to thirty months.