Speech #620041062

I introduced a bill a year or so agosome time within which the memory of man runneth not to the contraryand seat it to the Committee on Public Lands. I have not since heard from it. I think that. in order to relieve the settler. in order to induce immigration in a bona fide way to the public lands. the settlement of the public lands should at this time be placed upon a practical business basis and in accordance with the conditions of the present time. that we should get from under the archaic law of 40 or 50 years ago and give the settler an opportunity to utilize his assets. to utilize his earnings. and to utilize his lands as soon as the bona fide of the settler has been established. That is as thoroughly established after a period of residence of three years as it is after a period of residence of five years. Instead of administering these temporary reliefs for the distressed condition of the settlers we ought to overhaul the land law and place it in harmony with present conditions and the present time.