The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-08-03
U. S. COAL LANDS
HELD FOR NATION
President, Through Secretary
Hitchcock, Withdraws
Vast Tract.
MOVE a SOCIALIST ONE
Deposits Are to Be Held in Case Strike
Comes or Trust Is Too Greedy
In Line With La
Toilette.

Comes or Trust Is Too Greedy
In Line With La
Toilette.
Chicago, Aug. IA Washington spe-
cia to the Tribune says:
AS a result of action by the presi-
dent and Secretary Hitchcock, the
American people have been placed In
a position of independence with respect
to the coal monopoly or to a conflict
between miners and coal operators.
Following an exhaustive investiga-
ton. the secretary by direction of the
president has issued an order with
drawing from entry 5000, 900 acres OF
public lands which are known to pos
sess workable coal. The order perhaps
is in ~contraVention of a revised stat
ute, which provides that all valuable
MINERAL deposits on lands belonging to
the United States are free and open to
purchase.
The examination by the geological
survey in accordance with the instruc-
tions of the president developed that
there We're 5000, 900 acres of public
land believed to contain coal deposits.
The president, though, desired the
withdrawal of only those sections
known to possess workable coal. Ac-
cOrQlnSly the area was u TO o.
600, 900 acres.
The coal lands Withdrawn from en-
try are situated in New Mexico. Colo
RADIO. Utah. Wyoming, North Dakota,
Montana, Oregon and Washington.
Action Declared socialistic.
The action of the president and Sec
rotary Hitchcock in this matter is So
cialistic In the extreme. 1t means that
the government has taken possession
Of cool -1an1c "a M h1a nf Sr1nnJyipr tho
nation with an indefinite amoun of
fuel. Certainly the socialistic slogan of
government ownership of public util-
files has been carried out by the adj
ministration in this instance.
Congress has not authorized anything of
the kind, though the president in his mes
sage transmitting the report of Commits
sioner Of Corporations Garfield in regard
to the Standard Oil corporation declared
that the time had come when no oil or coal
lands held by the government, either with
In the public domain proper or territory
owned by Indian tribes, should be alien
ated. The president expressed the opinion
that the fee to such lands should be kept
In the United States government aud
leased on such terms and for such periods
as would enable the government to keep
entire control thereof.
Congress Fails to Act
Senator La Toilette introduced resolu-
Spooner was approached by Secretary
lions to attain this result, and Senator
Hitchcock with a view to securing the in
corporation of a provision in an appropria-
ton bill authorizing the president to locate
and withdraw from entry all public coal
lands. But congress adjourned without
action. and the president and Secretary
Hitchcock, after thorough consideration of
the subject, decided to act without SPECIFIC
legislative authority.
The conservatives in both the senate and
the house who were getting ready to fight
the La Toilette and Spooner resolutions
tooth and toe nail undoubtedly will subject
the new administration policy to sharp
criticism at the next session of congress-.
The president and Secretary Hitchcock are
confident, nevertheless, that the people
will approve a policy the only purpose OF
which was to prevent injury to the public
interests.
The president last spring when there was
danger of a second coal strike, let 1t be
known that he would not hesitate to carry
out his plan of receivership if he was
forced to do so by the failure Of the oper-
ators and miners to reach an agreement
and by the suffering which such a failure
would entail next winter.
He realized that the seizure of mines
would greatly ~irritate capital and might
cause It to grow timid. 1t probably would
consider that the government might re-
cara coal III az d ~
similar action in other industries. The
president knew, moreover, that he would
be subjected TO virulent criticism, and, fin
ally. that many of his SUCCESSORS, con-
fronted by a similar emergency, might not
sare to go as far as he himself would.
Coal Lands Subject of Fraud.
Secretary Hitchcock was Informed
through reports that he had received In an
official way that thousands Of acres of the
..l1:. lo~,,;, Il va hon,a antnve1 nC q rrt-
cultural lands, when as a matter of fact
the lands are mineral and are being
worked for coal, cement, asphalt, and 9TH
er minerals. The prosecutions for fraud
which are committed in some instances for
this deception are being pressed and others
will follow.
Senator LaFollette of Wisconsin played
a prominent part in the discussion on this
subject last winter. He urged vigorously
greater government control Of coal, oil and
other mineral lands in the possession Of
the Indians. But the senate turned down
his ideas.
senator LaFollette's presentation of the
subject attracted the attention Of the pres
!dent, as 1T was in line with the considera-
ton he was giving the subject of the gov
eminent retaining possession OF coal lands
still within the public domain.
A thorough: investigation conducted by
Secretary Hitchcock disclosed that there
was no WARRANT oT authority un0er exlSt-
ing law to withdraw from entry all coal
and asphalt lands lying within the public
domain. The president had hoped that he
had sufficient authority to do this. Not
w~ithstanding the failure Of congress to en-
! act legislation comforting such authority,
lie evidently Is still of the same opinion,
and counts upon the approval of his action
later.
DENOUNCED BY 0 P
! Papal Encyclical Expected AGAINST So.