The copper era., 1905-02-23
For Better Preservation of Country's
 Public Land.

A second partial report of the pub lie lands commission has been sent to congress by President Roosevelt. who. in his letter of transmittal, says
 the report seems ito require radical
 revision of most of the laws efecting
 the public domain, if We are to secure
 the best possible use of the remain ing public lands by actural home makers.
 The report is signed by w. A. Rich ards. land commissioner, F. A. Newell of the geological servey, and Clifford Pinchot, chief of the bureau 1 of forestry. In a summary of its recommendations the 11--~-s-"1ys rne ] conclusions are based on a broad general view of-the prH;iic land situa- tion, not on specific cases. Among other things the commission says:
 '.The present laws are not suited to meet the conditions of the growing public domain.
 "The agricultural possibilities are unknown. Provision should be made to ascertain them, and pending such entertainment. to hold, under govern ment control and in trust for such use. the lands likely to be developed by actual settlers.
 ''The right to exchange lands in forest reserves for lands outside should be withdrawn.
 '.Provision should be made for the purpose of needed private lands in- side of forest reserves, or for the exchange of such lands for specified tracts of like area and value outside the reserves
 The report renews it's recommends tion for the repeal of the timber and stond acts and asks that the sale of timber from unsurveyed public lands should be authorized.
 The communication clause of the homestead act is found on examina- tiOn to work badly. Three years of actual residence should be required before communication.
 "The desert land law is found to cad to land monopoly in many cases. The area of a desert entry should be reduced to not exceed 160 acres. Actual residence for not less than two years should be required, with the actual production of a valuable crop on one-fourth the area and proof of an adequate water supply"
 The cOmmissio., oonlScs the i'm mediate application of any rigid sys- tenn to all grazing lands, but recom- mends that the president should be authorized to set aside grazing dis tricts by proclamation, said districts to be under control of the secretary of agriculture. The summary con cludes with this statement:
 ''The fundamental fact that charac' terizes the situation under the pres ent public land law is this-that the number of patents issued is inereas- ing out of all proportion to the num- Der of new homes."
 President Roosevelt has directed James R. Garfield, commissioner of corporations of the department of ltDOl anu bo DSSl III mediately the investigation of crude and refined oil prices in Kansas re- quested by the house of representa- tives in d resolution adopted unani- mously. The investigation by the direction of the president. will be rigid and comprehensive. The presi- dent has directed a letter to Com missioner Garfield in which he has given his directions and presented in outline his views.
 The investigation will be pushed as rapidly as possible. The scope of the investigation and the time it will occupy cannot be indicated at this time. Representative Campbell, of Kansas, author of the resolution adopted by the house. had d con- ference with President Roosevelt today. Campbell's idea is that the investigation should concern particu- larly the situation in the Kansas l fields, but he expressed to the presi- | dent his belief that the inquiry once | begun would extend to operations of the Standard Oil company in the !! Beaumont field of Texas, and per l haps to other fields.