3202 A PROCLAMATIONS, 1906. applicant will be required to show himself duly qualified to make ` homestead entry of these lands under existing laws, by written application to be made on a blank furnished only at the places herein designated for registration, by the Commissioner of the _General Land Office, and to give the registering officers such appropriate matters of · description and identity as will protect the applicant and the government against any attempted impersonation. Registration can not be effected through the use of the mails or the employment of an agent, 11. s., sec. 2304, except that honorably discharged soldiers and sailors entitled to_the ¥’· $23 31 P 84., benefits of section twenty-three hundred and four of the Revised °` i, Statutes of the United States, as amended by the act of Congress . approved March first, nineteen hundred and one (31 Stat., 847), may present their applications for registration and due proofs of their qualifications through an agent o their own selection, having a duly executed power of attorney on a blank furnished by the Commis- _ sioner of the General Land Cffice, but no person will be permitted . ' to act as agent for more than one such soldier or sailor. No person will be permitted to register more than onceior in any other than his true name. V _ APP“°°”“- Each applicant who shows himself duly qualified will be registered - . and given a nontransferable certificate to that effect, which will entitle him to go upon and examine the lands to be opened hereunder; but the only purpose for which he can go upon and examine said lands is » that of enabling him later on, as herein provided, to understandingly select the lands for which he may make entry. No one will be permitted to make settlement upon any of said lands in advance of the opening herein provided for, and during the first. sixty days following ` said opening no one but registered applicants will be. permitted to make homestead settlement upon any o said lands, and then only in
pursuance of a homestead entry duly allowed by the local land officers,
j or of a soldier’s declaratory statement duly accepted by such officers.
Dr¤wi¤8¤— The order in which during the first sixty days following the opening, the registered applicants will be permitted to make homestead
entry of the lands o iened hereunder, will be determined by a drawing for the district iublicly held at Billings. Montana, commencing at 9 o`t·lock a. ni., l\fbnday, July 2, 1900, and continuing for such period as may be necessary to complete the same. ·The drawing will be had ‘ under the supervision and immediate observance of a committee of three persons whose integrity is such as to make their control of the drawing a guaranty of fairness. The members of this committee will be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, who will prescribe suitable compensation for their services. Preparatory to this drawing the registration officers will, at the time of registering each applicant who shows himself duly qualified. make out-Va card, which must be signed by the applicant, and giving such a description, of the applicant as will enable the local land officers to thereafter identify him. This . card will be subsequently sealed in a separate envelope which will bear no other distinguishing label or mark than such as mav be necessary to show that it is to go into the drawing. These envelopes will he carefully preserved and remain sealed until opened in the course of the drawing herein provided. “`hen the registration is completed all of these sealed envelopes will be brought together at the place of the drawing and turned over to the committee in charge of the drawing, A who. in such manner as in their judgment will be attended with entire fairness and equality of opportunity. shall proceed to draw out and open the separate envelopes and to give to each inclosed card a number in the order in which the envelope containing the same is drawn. The » result of the drawing will be certified by the committee to the officers of the district and will determine the order in which the applicants may make homestead entry of said lands and settlement. thereon.
