Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-17
President in a Special
Message Urges
New Laws.
CHANGE IN FORESTS
Another Message Asks Enact
ment of Naval Person
mel Bill.

Washington, Dec 17-In a message
TO congress today the president urges
the repeal of the timber and stone act,
demands the radical amendment of the
desert land act. and urges the repeal of
the Communication clause of the home
stead act, all of which he declares now
serve to turn great tracts of land over
to spectators and corporations.
Must Comply With Law.
To prevent fraudulent acquisition of
public lands. the president says he di-
rected the secretary of the interior TO
allow no patent to be issued TO public
lands under any law until by an exam
ination on the ground, actual compli-
ance with that law has been found to
exist. For this the general land Office
is urgently required.
Restrict Mineral Rights.
The president believes that there
should be provision for keeping coal.
oil and gas rights under proper restric-
tions. He urges a revision and reef
actment of existing laws affecting
rights of way and privileges on public
lands and reservations in one compre-
hensive act. providing that regulations
now in force in many cases may be ex-
tended TO all
Consolidate Forest Reserves.
Legislation is recommended in line
with the proposal 70 allow the railroads
to consolidate their holdings of timber
within forest reserves by exchange,
after deciding their lands to the govern
ment The president recommends that |
81 -,
thorized to advance to the forest serv-
ice, upon security of standing timber
an amount. say $4,000. 900, sufficient to |
provide for a reasonable working cap !
ital. for national forests. to bear in
terest and TO be repaid in annual in
stalIments beginning in 10 years.
Would Transfer Parks.
The transfer of the national parks |
from charge of the secretary of the in !
terror to the secretary of agriculture is |
recommended. Power to create ma
tional forests by proclamation should
be extended to Indian lands. Indians TO
be paid full value for land thus taken.
The president recommends legisla-
tion which will provide for government
control of the public ranges through
the department of agriculture, TO in
sure TO each locality rules for grazing
specially adapted to it's needs and to
the collection of a reasonable
grazing fee. He says he will see to it
that Illegal fences are removed unless
congress takes steps TO legalize proper
fencing by government control of the
range
Change in Naval Personnel.
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE president
sent message to congress today ear
nestly recommending the early consid-
Grafton of the naval personnel bill. say
ing that, should it be enacted into law
it will cause officers on the seagOing
list to reach the grade of captain at
IS and rear admirals at 55, and will
assure their serving seven years in the
grade of captain and seven years in the
grade of rear admiral, thus enabling
hem to become thoroughly skilled and
efficient in these grades.
Establishes Vice Admiral. ]
The bill also establishes the grade !
4 vice admiral On occasions of Off {
rial Importance of international coun-
ell. or of combined naval action, the /
hat our naval representatives shall
rank as the equal of naval represent :
itives of other powers. The president
says that. if the proposed plan of pro-
motion is carried out it will ,as COM
pared with the existing law, make a
saving of more than s5,00O,0O0 during
he next seven years.
stops Retirement.
The principal part of this saving is
made by stopping the involuntary re-
irement of young lieutenant command ! ;
IT'S with the rank and pay of command-
rs upon the retired list. The president !,
s firmly of the opinion that unless the
present system is rectified by judicious
egislation, the future of our navy will q
,e greatly compromised.
Is an lmpostor. {
Washington, Dec. 17.-The Russian
Baron Rosen, has been
by his government to an t