The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-03-15

S CAUSING MUCH CONTROVERSY

The senate committee on public
lands is putting the finishing touches
on the bill to repeal the timber and
stone act and substitute therefor 4
law authorizing the sale of mature
timber on the public domain at not less
than its appraised value provision
also being made for the sale of stone
valuable for building purposes on an
equitable basis, is the report that
comes from Washington, D. c. For
six weeks the senate committee has
been considering this BILL and has
now agreed to its various provisions,
merely waiting on the adjustment Of
minor features before presenting to the
senate. Practically every member Of
the committee is favorable to the bill
in its present FORM believing it will
cure most if not all the evils that have
been perpetrated under the provisions
of the timber and stone act.
The future of this bill is somewhat
in doubt. 1t seems quite likely that <
will pass the senate for there is n
general sentiment in it's favor With
few exceptions the entire senate is
convinced that the entire timber and
stone act is Ubiquitous in many re-
spects-in it's enforcement if not in its
prescribed stipulations. But what will
the house committee do to the senate
bill?
House Tabled Similar Bill.
1t will be recalled that only a cou-
pie of weeks ago the house committee
tabled a similar bill to that now being
framed in the senate committee. Bv a
vote of eight to five the house COM
mittee refused to even permit the
house to consider the subject of re-
pealng the timber and stone act. 1t
was wise move from the standpoint
of the men opposed to reform in the
land laws. for it is a sure thing that
once the house has an opportunity to
vote to repeal the timber and stone
act that law will go off the statute
books with the sanction of large ma
jOrity of the house members. There
is really little reason to believe that
the house committee will permit the
bill to go before the house for con-
sideration. The opposition to repeal
headed by Mondell of Wyoming. Is
not going to take any unnecessary
risk. The surest way to kill the re-
peal bill is to kill it in committee:
in fact that is the only way. and no
body knows this better than Mondeil.
Mondell is aware that he could not
kill the repeal bill in a fair fight on the
floor of the house; he would admit, #
he spoke frankly. that the house would
gladly repeal the timber and stone
act if the subject was once given full
and free discussion on the floor.
Western Senators Hopeful.
That is why Mondell and his SYM
pathizers will again smother the re-
peal of the timber and stone act in
committee, if they dare do so. There
is. however, some hope in the hearts
of western senators that the house
committee may be compelled to report
one way or the other on the bill after
it has passed the senate This does
not necessarily follow, although sena-
tors most interested may see to it that
house members from their own states
vote to give the bill hearing before
the house. and not shelve it, as two
house bills have been shelved hereto
fore.
It is difficult to understand the rea-
sOning of the men in the house COM
mittee who oppose the repeal of the
timber and stone act Mondell. of
course. opposes it because. he says. the
present law works satisfactorily in
Wyoming. and has led to no frauls
there. That is enough for him. His
vision does not extend beyond the
borders of Wyoming; it seldom does;
but from what he knows of conditions
in Wyoming, Mondell is ready to tell
the president and the public lands
commission all about the workings Of
the land laws, and is ready to assume
the responsibility for prescribing what
those laws shall be. Mondell, having
made up his mind that the timber and
stone act is good law, he is bound
and determined that congress shall ac-
cept his views, so he leads the move