44 
OTHER  LEGISLATION. 
Multiple  Homesteading. 
The  policy  of  the  land  law  system  being  to  create  homes  upon 
the  land,  the  Commission  recommends  that  no  applicant  should 
be  permitted  to  take  more  than  one  lot  for  homestead  purposes. 
After  an  applicant  has  once  exercised  his  right,  he  should  not  be 
again  allowed  to  apply.  This  provision  should  also  extend  to 
those  who  have  applied,  have  been  awarded  lots,  and  have  aban- 
doned their  agreement  without  a bona  fide  effort  to  fulfill  all  of 
its  terms.  Such  a provision  tends  to  prevent  speculation  and 
carries  out  the  true  doctrine  of  the  homestead  law ; that  the  land 
is  taken  for  a home,  and  not  to  enter  on  and  sell,  and  again  enter 
on  and  sell.  That  no  hardship  may  be  visited  on  those  who  have 
already  taken  land,  not  knowing  that  such  a provision  might  be 
thereafter  declared  to  be  law,  and  which  knowledge  might  have 
influenced  them  in  their  choice  of  land,  the  Commission  deems  it 
advisable  that  such  a provision  apply  to  such  applications  or  titles 
perfected  on  such  applications  as  may  be  made  from  and  after 
January  I,  1909.  Neither  wife  when  husband  has  applied,  nor 
husband  when  wife  has  applied,  should  be  permitted  to  make 
application. 
Citizens. 
Only  citizens  or  those  eligible  to  become  citizens  should  be  con- 
sidered as  eligible  to  make  applications  for  government  land. 
Those  eligible  for  citizenship  must,  in  the  case  of  the  Homestead 
Agreement,  have  become  citizens  before  the  expiration  of  the 
term  of  their  agreement  and,  in  all  cases,  before  a patent  is  issued 
to  them,  otherwise  the  land  should  be  forfeited  to  the  govern- 
ment. Neither  aliens  nor  the  wives  of  aliens  should  be  per- 
mitted to  apply  for,  acquire  or  own  or  hold  by  lease  or  otherwise, 
any  government  land  or  rights  under  any  of  the  land  laws  of 
the  Territory  relative  to  government  lands.  In  this  connection 
the  Commission  recommends  that  the  form  of  oath  set  forth  in 
Section  347,  R.  L.  H.,  be  amended  so  as  to  include  persons  apply- 
ing for  land  under  the  Homestead  Agreement,  and  also  so  as  to 
contain  declarations  that  the  applicant  is  applying  for  the  land 
with  the  intention  in  good  faith  of  making  the  land  his  home- 
stead and  not  for  the  purpose  of  speculation  and  that  the  title 
which  he  may  acquire  will  inure  to  no  other  person  than  himself. 
Rules  and  Regulations. 
The  Commission  recommends  that  the  laws  be  so  amended  as 
to  give  the  Governor  the  power  to  promulgate  such  rules  and 
regulations  as  may  be  necessary  and  proper  for  the  purpose  of 
carrying  the  provisions  of  the  Land  Act  as  amended  into  full  force 
and  effect.  Such  a provision  may  be  found  in  the  Reclamation 
Act  of  June  17,  1902,  passed  by  the  Congress  of  the  Lnited  States. 
(32  Stat.  L.  388.) 
