Mr. DRIGGS. As a member of the ComPubLands, and as one of the parties who signed the paper that has been read to the House, I desire simply to state that when this question came up, considered that itwas my privilege to investigate the facts and to decide accordingly, just as much as it was the right and privilege of the chairman or any other member of the committee. When the question assumed the character of great interest which it came to assume in the committee, I felt it my duty when the vote had been taken, and it was decided to report the bill with the amendment, to give it a still further and more thor ough investigation. After doing so, I found that the occu ants of those lands had acquired a title from allejo; that they had gone on and cultivated and improved the Soscol ranch, and that they had been sustained in that title by the decisions of the courts; but that after various labors and workings on the part of men interested, the title was set aside y the Supreme Court. Immediately, like so many crows around a carcass, these men who claim to be bona fide pree'uiptors entered upon this land, cut down the wheat fields, removed the buildings, took possession of the land, and erected their shantics. On this they base their claim as preem tors. Now, having myself been a register of the U.S. Land Office, I believe that the law regulating preemption was designed for the benefit of those who enter upon the land of the U.S and culti vate and reduce it to actual settlement, not those who go in and avail themselves of other people's improvements. I think that, considering all the questions of lawinvolved, it would be right that ilie matter embraced in the amendment should at some future day be referred to the ComJudiciary, that they may reportuponthelegalquestionsinvolved. Ithin that the proosition should not be attached to this bill. tor this reason, I with 5 other members of the committee signed the paper which was read. Now, it was said by the Gentfrom Indiana, [Mr. JULiAN] though I do not say that he intended to impugn my motives, that we had been driven or coaxed into signing that paper by the Gentfrom California. Sir, lpdeny this. 1 affirm that on the questions coming before me as a member of this House I think as independently and act as conscientiously as the Gentfrom Indiana.