The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-18
Radical Changes
: in Land Laws
Are Urged
President Says Repeal
Is Necessary to
Stop Frauds

WASHINGTON, Dec 1.-THE repeal
of the stone and timber act, the COM
mutation clause Of the homestead act.
sweeping revision OF the desert land
act. a provision for leasing Government
coal. oil and gas lands. the revision OF
the right Of way laws. the right 10
create forest reserves by proclamation
and Government control OF public
ranges through the Department OF Ag-
ricuiture are among the recommends
tons for radical changes in the public
land laws made By the President in his
special message transmitted 10 Con-
gress this afternoon
The President demands the uncondi-
tional repeal OF the stone and timber
act. which he says has demonstrated
conciusively that It's effect is to turn
corporations The desert land law. he
says. results so frequently in fraud and
so seldom in making homes on the
lands that il demands radical amend
ment- The provision providing for as
signment. he insists. should be re-
peaied. and the entryman- should be re-
CURED 10 live not less than two years
on the land before patent Issues
The Communication clause Of the home
stead law. the President says works
in a majority of cases TO defeat the
purpose of the law itself. by enabling
spectators and loan and mortgage
sharks 10 get control of the lands.
Much of the gigantic fraud unearthed
during the last four years he ascribes
10 the faults Of the public land laws
The President ridicules the present
coal land law. which limits the indi-
vidual entry TO $50 acres. He contends
that the law puts a premium on fraud
by making ii impossible TO develop coal
fields and yet comply with the law He
believes that the law should give indi-
viduals and corporations the right 10
operate bodies OF coal lands large
enough for profitable development IN
der strict governmental control. and
renews his recommendation for a law
permitting leasing Of coal. oil and gas
lands He also asks that the Secretary
OF the Interior be enabled TO employ
mining experts for the purpose OF ex-
aiming the validity OF all mineral land
claims
Roosevelt's recommendations touch
ing forests and forest reserves are IF
q character so radically opposed 70 the
settled Congressional policy that they
can scarcely be expected 10 receive
legalization. First. he wtuld have all
forest reserves placed under the con-
troll of the Secretary OF Agriculture
He estimates the value Of the reserves
at $1,000. goo. 900. 900. with a stumpage
value OF s700.0oo.0o0 His contention IS
that in four years they will be self
sustaining. and pending the realization
of this belief asks Congress for $1,000
600 working capital
He would compel the transfer or ex-
cnange of all timber lands in private
or corporate grantees within reserve
limits 10 the Federal Government
The recommendation least likely to
meet the Congressional sense of fitness
is L. asnlng for power to put Indian
lands in forest reserves by proclama-
ton
The President deplores existing con-
ditions on the public ranges. and asks
that they be placed under the control
Of the Secretary OF Agriculture ana
that the anti-feneing laws be repealed.
The present right Of way laws. the
President contends. protect neither the
Government nor The grantee and he
recommends their revision under one
comprehensive act