Show Important land Decisions WASHINGTON June 6The secretary of the interior today rendered an important decision in the case of the Northern Pacific Pa-cific railroad company against John Stevenson Ste-venson involving a tract of land in Bozeman Boze-man Montana land district The secretary secre-tary in effect holds that a prima facie valid unexpired preemption filing existing at the date when the grant to the Northern Pacific company became effective excepts the land covered thereby from the grant Also that the presumption of the existence of a preemption claim ceases on the expiration expi-ration of the statutory period decided for making of final proof and payment The presumption arises thereafter that whatever claim previously attached to the land by reason of such filing had been abandoned The presumtion however is not conclusive but open to rebuttal by any one claiming a right or interest who may allege the contrary The secretary also rendered an important import-ant decision in the ex parte case of James W Barry The secretary in his case holds a preemptor whose claim was pending at the time of the passage of the homesteatd act March 21SS9 may transmute his preemption pre-emption filing into a homestead entry notwithstanding not-withstanding the fact that prior thereto he may have had the benefit of one homestead home-stead entry |