ignated by the district court for that purpose. It shall be the duty of the district court of each judicial district to appoint such number of persons, to be known as United States commissioners, at such places in the district as may be designated by the district court, which United States commissioners shall have the same powers and perform the same duties as are now imposed upon commissioners of the circuit courts. The appointment of such United States commissioners shall be entered of record in the district courts, and notice thereof at once given by the clerk to the Attorney-General. That such United States commissioners shall hold their offices, respectively, for the term of four years, but they shall be at any time subject to removal by the district court; and no person shall at any time be a clerk or deputy clerk of a United States court and a United States commissioner without the approval of the Attorney-General: Provided, That all acts and parts of acts applicable to commissioners of the circuit courts, except as to appointment and fees, shall be applicable to United States commissioners appointed under this act. Warrants of arrest for violations of internal-revenue laws may be issued by United States commissioners upon the sworn complaint of a United States district attorney, assistant United States district attorney, collector or deputy collector of internal revenue, or revenue agent or private citizen, but no such warrant of arrest shall be issued upon the sworn complaint of a private citizen unless first approved in writing by a United States district attorney. That United States commissioners and all clerks of United States courts are hereby authorized to administer oaths.

CHAP. 312.-AN ACT relating to commutations of homestead entries, and to confirm such entries when commutation proofs were received by local land officers prematurely.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever it shall appear to the Commissioner of the General Land Office that an error has heretofore been made by the officers of any local land office in receiving premature commutation proofs under the homestead laws, and that there was no fraud practiced by the entryman in making such proofs, and final payment has been made and a final certificate of entry has been issued to the entryman, and that there are no adverse claimants to the land described in the certificates of entry whose rights originated prior to making such final proofs, and that no other reason why the title should not vest in the entryman exists except that the commutation was made less than fourteen months from the date of the homestead settlement, and that there was at least six months' actual residence in good faith by the homestead entryman on the land prior to such commutation, such certificates of entry shall be in all things confirmed to the entryman, his heirs, and legal representatives, as of the date of such final certificate of entry and a patent issue thereon; and the title so patented shall inure to the benefit of any grantee or transferee in good faith of such entryman subsequent to the date of such final cer

tificate: Provided, That this act shall not apply to commutation and homestead entries on which final certificates have been issued, and which have heretofore been canceled when the lands made vacant by such cancellation have been reentered under the homestead act.

SEC. 2. That all commutations of homestead entries shall be allowed after the expiration of fourteen months from date of settlement.

SEC. 3. That all acts and parts of acts in conflict with any of the provisions of this act are hereby repealed.

SEC. 4. That this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval.

Approved, June 3, 1896. (29 Stat., 197.)

[No. 72.]

SETTLERS ON NORTHERN PACIFIC SECOND INDEMNITY GRANT, MINNESOTA, ALLOWED OTHER LANDS FOR CANCELED ENTRIES.

CHAP. 316. AN ACT for the relief of settlers on the Northern Pacific Railroad indemnity lands.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That those persons, their heirs, or legal representatives, who, between the fifteenth day of August, anno Domini eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, and the first day of Januuary, anno Domini eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, settled upon and made final proof and entry, under the homestead or preemption laws, of lands within the so-called second indemnity belt of the Northern Pacific Railway Company's grant in the State of Minnesota, which entries were afterwards, without their fault, canceled, upon establishing the facts before the register and receiver of the local land office, in such mode and under such rules as may be prescribed by the Secreretary of the Interior, shall be allowed to make final homestead entry, and receive a patent therefor, of a quantity of land of any of the unap propriated public lands of the United States subject to homestead entry, equal in acreage to the land proved up and entered in the said second indemnity belt, as aforesaid, without being required to make any settlement or improvement upon or cultivation of such land so entered prior to such entry; and those persons, their heirs or legal representatives, who, within the period aforesaid for the space of six months settled upon, improved, and cultivated any of said indemnity lands with a view of entering the same under the homestead or preemption laws, being competent to make such entries, and who were not permitted to make such entries, upon establishing these facts_before the register and receiver of the local land office, in such mode and under such rules as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe, shall be allowed to enter under the homestead laws of the United States a quantity of land of the unappropriated public lands of the United States, subject to homestead entry, equal in amount to the land settled upon, improved, and cultivated, as aforesaid, and under the homestead entry so made, shall, when making proof and final entry, receive credit for the settle ment, improvement, and cultivation made upon the said indemnity land as aforesaid: Provided, That the law in force in eighteen hundred and eighty-nine governing the commutation of homestead entries shall apply to the commutation of entries under this section.

SEC. 2. That those who are entitled to make the homestead entries prescribed in the preceding section may make such entries of any of

the agricultural lands embraced in the provisions of an act entitled "An act for the relief and civilization of the Chippewa Indians in the State of Minnesota," approved January fourteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, upon condition of paying for such lands the price prescribed in said act.

SEC. 3. That the right of homestead entry conferred by the provi sions of this act shall not be assignable, and no conveyance, sale, or transfer of the land so entered shall be valid or of any effect if made before patent has issued.

Approved, June 3, 1896. (29 Stat., 245.)

[No. 73.]

ENTRY OF LANDS IN GREER COUNTY, OKLAHOMA.

CHAP. 62.-AN ACT to provide for the entry of lands in Greer County, Oklahoma, to give preference rights to settlers, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That every person qualified under the homestead laws of the United States, who, on March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, was a bona fide occupant of land within the territory established as Greer County, Oklahoma, shall be entitled to continue his occupation of such land with improvements thereon, not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres, and shall be allowed six months preference right from the passage of this act within which to initiate his claim thereto, and shall be entitled to perfect title thereto under the provisions of the homestead law, upon payment of land office fees only, at the expiration of five years from the date of entry, except that such person shall receive credit for all time during which he or those under whom he claims shall have continuously occupied the same prior to March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six. Every such person shall also have the right, for six months prior to all other persons, to purchase at one dollar an acre, in five equal annual payments, any additional land of which he was in actual possession on March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres, which, prior to said date, shall have been cultivated, purchased, or improved by him. When any person entitled to a homestead or additional land, as above provided, is the head of a family, and though still living, shall not take such homestead or additional land, within six months from the passage of this act, any member of such family over the age of twenty-one years, other than husband or wife, shall succeed to the right to take such homestead or additional land for three months longer, and any such member of the family shall also have the right to take, as before provided, any excess of additional land actually cultivated or improved prior to March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six above the amount to which such head of the family is entitled, not to exceed one hundred and sixty acres to any one person thus taking as a member of such family.

In case of the death of any settler who actually established residence and made improvement on land in said Greer County prior to March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, the entry shall be treated as having accrued at the time the residence was established, and sections twenty-two hundred and ninety-one and twenty-two hundred and ninety-two of the Revised Statutes shall be applicable thereto.

Any person entitled to such homestead or additional land shall have the right prior to January first, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, from the passage of this act to remove all crops and improvements he may have on land not taken by him.

SEC. 2. That all land in said county not occupied, cultivated, or improved, as provided in the first section hereof, or not included within the limits of any town site or reserve, shall be subject to entry to actual settlers only, under the provisions of the homestead law.

SEC. 3. That the inhabitants of any town located in said county shall be entitled to enter the same as a town site under the provisions of sections twenty-three hundred and eighty-seven, twenty-three hundred and eighty-eight, and twenty-three hundred and eighty-nine of the Revised Statutes of the United States: Provided, That all persons who have made or own improvements on any town lots in said county made prior to March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, shall have the preference right to enter said lots under the provisions of this act and of the general town-site laws.

SEC. 4. Sections numbered sixteen and thirty-six are reserved for school purposes as provided in laws relating to Oklahoma, and sections thirteen and thirty-three in each township are reserved for such purpose as the legislature of the future State of Oklahoma may prescribe. That whenever any of the lands reserved for school or other purposes under this act, or under the laws of Congress relating to Oklahoma, shall be found to have been occupied by actual settlers or for town-site purposes or homesteads prior to March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, an equal quantity of indemnity lands may be selected as provided by law.

SEC. 5. That all lands which on March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, are occupied for church, cemetery, school, or other charitable or voluntary purposes, not for profit, not exceeding two acres in each case, shall be patented to the proper authorities in charge thereof, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior shall establish, upon payment of the Government price therefor, excepting for school purposes.

SEC. 6. That there shall be a land office established at Mangum, in said county, upon the passage of this act.

SEC. 7. That the provisions of this act shall apply only to Greer County, Oklahoma, and that all laws inconsistent with the provisions of this act, applying to said territory in said county, are hereby repealed; and all laws authorizing commutations of homesteads in Oklahoma shall apply to Greer County.

SEC. 8. That this act shall take effect from its passage and approval. Approved, January 18, 1897. (29 Stat., 490.)

[No. 74.]

FORFEITED RAILROAD GRANTS-EXTENSION OF TIME TO PURCHASE. CHAP. 250.-AN ACT to amend an act entitled "An act to forfeit certain lands heretofore granted for the purpose of aiding in the construction of railroads, and for other purposes," approved September twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and ninety, and the several acts amendatory thereof.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section three of an act entitled "An act to forfeit certain lands heretofore granted for the pur

pose of aiding in the construction of railroads, and for other purposes," approved September twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and ninety, and the several acts amendatory thereof, be, and the same is, amended so as to extend the time within which persons entitled to purchase lands forfeited by said act shall be permitted to purchase the same, in the quantities and upon the terms provided in said section and the amendments thereto, at any time prior to January first, eighteen hundred and ninety-nine: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to interfere with any adverse claim that may have attached to the lands or any part thereof.

Approved, February 18, 1897. (29 Stat., 535.)

[No. 75.]

EXTENSION OF TIME TO SETTLERS IN GREER COUNTY, OKLAHOMA. CHAP. 8.—AN ACT to amend an act entitled "An act to provide for the entry of lands in Greer County, Oklahoma, to give preference rights to settlers, and for other purposes," approved January eighteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety

seven.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the time for the exercise of the preference right of entry granted to bona fide occupants of land within the territory established as Greer County, Oklahoma, by section one of an act entitled "An act to provide for the entry of lands in Greer County, Oklahoma, to give preference rights to settlers, and for other purposes," approved January eighteenth, eighteen hundred and ninetyseven, be, and the same is hereby, extended to January first, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight.

Approved, June 23, 1897. (30 Stat., 105.)

[No. 76.]

GRANTING RIGHT OF WAY FOR TRAMROADS, CANALS, ETC. CHAP. 292.-AN ACT to amend an act to permit the use of the right of way through public lands for tramroads, canals, and reservoirs, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the act entitled "An act to permit the use of the right of way through the public lands for tramroads, canals, and reservoirs, and for other purposes," approved January twenty-first, eighteen hundred and ninety-five, be, and the same is hereby, amended by adding thereto the following:

"That the Secretary of the Interior be, and hereby is, authorized and empowered, under general regulations to be fixed by him, to permit the use of right of way upon the public lands of the United States, not within limits of any park, forest, military, or Indian reservations, for tramways, canals, or reservoirs, to the extent of the ground occupied by the water of the canals and reservoirs, and fifty feet on each side of the marginal limits thereof, or fifty feet on each side of the center line of the tramroad, by any citizen or association of citizens of the United States, for the purposes of furnishing water for domestic, public, and other beneficial uses.

"SEC. 2. That the rights of way for ditches, canals, or reservoirs