New-York tribune., 1905-02-25
PUBLIC LAND PROBLEMS.
Important Recommendations of the
Presidents Special Commission.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BrREAU,l

Washington Feb 24-Not many documents sent
to Congress b. a President which contain such far
reaching recommendations have caused less notice
than the repor; of the Public Lands Commission.
printed last week with a special message from the
President heartily indorsing all its findings. and
characterizng the subject as one Of great masni-
tude and importance"
This report is one of the most profound documents
which has come TO Congress for some time. In
discussing the question Of land monopoly although
not under the yellow head it states that nearls
everywhere in the West the large land owner has
succeeded in securing the best tracts. whether Of
timber or agricultural land No specific acreages
ara stated in the report but indicate the extent
TO which lands have been acquired by single cor
porations. a government engineer recently called
attention at a meeting of engineers, to single
tract OF Western land owned by corporation, en-
bracing four million acres. There has been some
outcry against this condition the report states.
yet the lack greater protest is significant 1t is
exnlained bv the energy, shrewdness and influence
of ner to whom the continuance OF the present land
laws is desirable. The report says:
The commission has had inquiries made 10 how
a number of estates. selected haphazard have been
evasion of the letter and spirit Of the land laws
that the present owners OF these estates dis
honest but the fact remains that their holdings
There exists and is spreading the West
ant or hired labor system. which not only repre-
sents a relatively low industrial development but
Tbosa further extension carries with it most
serioTs threat Politically, socially and economi-
csIiy this system is indefensibe. Had the land
Laws been effective and eTectually enforced its
yro1Vth would have been impossible. The funda-
fact that characteriZeS the present situation
ie this. That the number of patents issued is in
creasing out of all proportion to the new homes
The report states that under the Timber and
Stone act the government has lost and is losing
yearly vast sums of money through the sale Of
valusble timber lands to spectators" and recon-
mends in the public interest that the law should
be repealed
The Lieu Land Forest Reserve law IS also critl-
cised as a scandaous act and its immediate repeal
recommended
The Communication clause Of the Homestead law is
also attacked as having resulted in the entering Of
great areas OF government land for the purpose Of
speculation
The report denounces the Desert Land Law as an
instrument of speculation. fraud and perjury. and
recommends such radical changes in II as 70
amount almost to It's repeal II said;
Hundreds of desert entries We're examined by the
members of the commission in the last year. and
H. great majority Of them were found 10 be un-
tnba bited uurrigated, unCult.vated and with no
improvements other than fence. Many alleged II
rIgation bitches reservatrs are familiar 10 the
MANNERS of the commission which are utterly IN
ade0uate TO frrigate square rod. and upon the
strength of such works patent has been frequently
issued 800 acres.