Show december 24 1915 hon william owa 0 neil roosevelt utah dear mr oneil I 1 do not think it advisable to fo incurs the expense incident to sending a committee to washington to urge the passage of legislation on the subjects mentioned in your letter I 1 can not give you much encouragement coura gement for legislation making the former uintah indian reservation subject to free home stead sIf if I 1 understand your aur letter to M mean ean thit this liy by your adf reference to io free homesteads fort duchesne ought to be granted to the state and I 1 do not expect much opposition to this proposition s if w we can present good and convincing hig reasons for it in regard to including the indian grazing lands in the ashley national forest I 1 have already submitted the memorial of the governor and the legislature e 0 of f utah on that subject to congress and have furnished the chief officer of the foret forest bureau with a c copy apy of sane same and S solicited L ed his advice and support Is as to the best course to pursue to most expeditiously accomplish it and have just received a reply ply a co copy py of which is petitions on the part of the people of course are helpful but along thre there should be a full and complete statement of all the facts ind and circumstances cum curn stances and the reasons on which the demand for legislation is based I 1 adf am not informed fully as to what your people want in the shape of free homesteads in the last congress gress a bill restoring to homesteaders ste aders on indian lands who had P paid aid a per acre price for their lands their homestead rights was favorably reported this bill did not pass but it was strongly urged and may become a L law at this congress if it does I 1 believe it will be all thel the relief we can expect I 1 would like very much to be put in pos I 1 session of full information on a any ny qu question estion of legislation your section of our state requires and you noumay may depend upon it I 1 will find pleasure in working to thit that end yours truly JOSEPH HOWELL 0 |