Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-05-27
FOREST RESESVES.
Senator Hepburn Discusses the Decision
of the President.

of the President.
Upon being asked by a Press reporter
for an expression on the forest reserve
question as it now stands and plans for
future action, Senator Hepburn gave
out the following:
1.-The information sent out through
the press dispatches, published in the
various papers in Idaho and neighboring
states, in regard to the action of the
president on the proposed Withdrawals
of the public lands for forest reserves,
is not definite as to the areas or locations
included in any such order. The dispatch
published in the Boise Statesman states
that the president has not yet acted
upon the proposed Shoshone reserve. l
have had no official notification of any
action in regard to the forest reserves
in question. 1t is my purpose to con-
tinue my efforts to prevent the with
drawals of any portions of the lands of
Idaho that are adapted to settlement
and home making purposes. My action
is in the interest of the people of the
state, and l am Satisfied that it meets
with the approval of practically an of
them.
1.-The pretense that because some
lumber firms have purchased large guam
titles of state lands the action on the
part of the government is necessary,
has no merit whatever. My information
is that a greater portion of the lands
held by these timber syndicates has
been purchased from the state. l do
not approve of these large holdings, and
could have my way would make them
impossible. l do not Sympathize with
or encourage locations that are in any
degree subject to criticism as to their
bona fides. 1 sincerely hope that the
executive department will enforce the
, laws which congress has enacted in
compelling an observance of the law by
all persons seeking through any action
whatever to acquire public lands.
1.-The charge made by implication in
the cartoon published in the Spokesman
| Review, identifying me With the trust S
, interests was without any justification
by word or deed on my part. 1t ex-
pressed lie on it's face. l have always,
both in private and public life, opposed
the acquisition of public lands by syndi-
Gates and trusts. l have repeatedly
called the attention of the interior de-
. partment to palpable frauds being per-
petrated in the acquisition of public
lands under the various laws of the
United States. So far as l have been
, advised no attention has been paid tc
4 these frauds which l have pointed out,
. but in the very creation of the timber
reserves now under consideration, one
reserve which is to be created in Cassie
L county, if the papers report the facts
S correctly, is in the interest of the most
+ outrageous violations of the law posi-
. ble 1t is done at the ms ance of mer
who stole more than fifty thousand acre:
of public domain; and have IN q lettei
e specially pointed out this fact to the
s secretary of the interior and asked min
n to take action in the matter:
81 do not make these statements 70
the purpose of expressing vindictiveness
/ do not feel vindictive in the matter
l realize that it requires patience anC
persistent effort to secure the best in
terests of the people by those who rep
IL resent the state in national affairs.
h have made statements in opposition t.
lie the proposed Withdrawals that are base'
" upon actual knowledge and facts. The.
)r have been met with a general denial
n eminat;ng largely from those who's
sympathies and interests are alien t
T. those of the state of idaho and its PEG
in pie, and whose action is based upo
a. theories and inexpeIience. l do not i'm
I'd pute evil motives to these men, but
lie Judge them incompetent in the perform
e. ance of the duties which they have ur
I'd dertaken.
o. 81 shall not relax my efforts on behal
at of good government and the preserve
ed zion of the interests of the people of tn
re state which l represent. l may nc
n. accomplish all that desire, but l hop
ry to accomplish mitch. Idaho Press