Chapter 479. Providing for free homesteads on the public lands for actual and bona fide settlers, and reserving the public lands for that purpose
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CHAP. 479.— An Act Providing for free homesteads on the public lands for actual and bona fide settlers, and reserving the public lands for that purpose. May 17, 1900. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That all settlers under the Public lands. Free homesteads for actual settlers, etc. homestead laws of the United States upon the agricultural public lands, which have already been opened to settlement, acquired prior to the passage of this Act by treaty or agreement from the various Indian tribes, who have resided or shall hereafter reside upon the tract entered in good faith for the period required by existing law, shall be entitled to a patent for the land so entered upon the payment to the local land officers of the usual and customary fees, and no other or further charge of any kind whatsoever shall be required from such settler to entitle him to a patent for the land covered by his entry: *Provided*, That the *Provisos*.
Right to commute continued. right to commute any such entry and pay for said lands in the option of any such settler and in the time and at the prices now fixed by existing laws shall remain in full force and effect: *Provided, however*, Payments to Indian tribes. That all sums of money so released which if not released would belong to any Indian tribe shall be paid to such Indian tribe by the United States, and that in the event that the proceeds of the annual sales of Agricultural colleges, etc. the public lands shall not be sufficient to meet the payments heretofore provided for agricultural colleges and experimental stations by an Act of Congress, approved August thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety, Vol. 26, p. 417. for the more complete endowment and support of the colleges for the benefit of agriculture and mechanic arts, established under the provisions of an Act of Congress, approved July second, eighteen hundred Vol. 12, p. 503. and sixty-two, such deficiency shall be paid by the United States: *And provided further*, That no lands shall be herein included on which the Certain lands not included.
United States Government had made valuable improvements, or lands that have been sold at public auction by said Government. Sec. 2. That all Acts or parts of Acts inconsistent with the provisions Repeal. of this Act are hereby repealed. Approved, May 17, 1900.