SUMMARY REMEDIES. 125 



of them should refuse or neglect to pay their taxes in 

 pursuance of the provisions of the law, the land com- 

 missioner, upon being officially notified by the tax 

 collector of such neglect or refusal, should, without 

 delay, restore such lands to the operations of the 

 homestead law, and make public proclamation of the 

 same. The railroad companies that might feel ag- 

 grieved by such action to have their remedy by pro- 

 ceedings against the Land Office, but no action of any 

 nature to lie against any settler who should be found 

 in possession of any of the lands that lie within the 

 limits of the grants so forfeited and restored to home- 

 stead occupation. 



The lands of the bonanza farms should also be 

 brought under the same provisions and penalties, 

 with a special provision limiting the amount of land 

 that might be deemed subject to taxation as im- 

 proved land, because of bona fide occupation and im- 

 provement thereon, to one quarter section, or one 

 hundred and sixty acres. 



Under the provisions of a law of this nature, in 

 connection with an effective redistribution of labor, 

 the lands of the nation would again, and that quickly, 

 go into the hands of the people. The railroad com- 

 panies would sell their lands to the actual settler and 

 small farmer on terms having the color of equity, and 

 would not seek to hold them indefinitely in order to 

 extort higher rates. Or, if they did so, they would be 

 compelled to pay for the privilege. 



The bonanza farmer would hasten to cut up and 

 put his lands into the market for actual occupation, 

 especially as the provisions of the law for the relief 



