The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-17

oral recommt Ldations for legislation II
re ations 10 the public lands.
The substance cf the message follows
THE MESSAGE.
TO the Senate and House OF Representa-
lives:
The developments or the past year EN-
phasize with inci easing force the need O
vigorous and immediate action to recas
the public land laws and adapt them q
The actual situation. The timber an'
stone act has demonstrated conclusiyeI
that its effect IS TO turn over the public
timber lands 10 great corporations.
has dcne enormous harm. It is no Longer
needed and It should be repealed, The
desert land act results SO frequently ~
naud and SO comparatively seldom IN
making homes in the land that II de-
npsilds radical amendment.
THAT provision which permits assign
ment before patent should be repealed
and tho eatiy man should be required 20
1.-Two for not less than two years at home
on the land before patent issues, Other
vlao the desert land law will continue
10 aselst speculators and other large
hclders 10 get control Of the land and
Nater and the public domain by inde-
fenslblo means.
DEFEATS ITS PURPOSE.
The communication clause OF the home
stead act serves, in majority OF cases,
TO defeat the purpose OF the homestead
act itself which rs TO facilitate settle
ment and create homes. In theory the
communication clause snouid ASSIST lne
honest settler and doubtless IN some
cases IL does SO. Far more often 1t sup
plies the means by which spectators and
loan and mortgage companies secure pos
session OF the land.
Actual, not constructive. living at home
ON the land for three years, should he re-
ouired before Communication, unless IL
should appear wiser 10 repeal the COM
mutation clause.
These matters are more fully discussed
in the report of the public lands COM
mission. 20 which / again call your at
tention.
/ am gracely concerned at the extremely
unsatisfactory condition of the public
land laws and at the prevalence OF trauu
under their present provisions. For inucn
OF this fraud the present laws are chiefly
responsible. There is but one way by
which the fraudulent acquisition OF these
lands can he definitely stopped and there
fore | have directed the secretary or the
Interior TO allow no patents TO he Issued
10 public lands under any law until by
an examination on the ground actuai
with that law mas been found
10 exist.
MORE HELP NEEDED,
For this purpose an increase OF special
agents In the general land Office Is ur-
gently required.
Inles ID is given, bona fde would-be
settlers will be put 10 grave inconveni.
ence, or else the fraud In large part Will
20 on Further the secretary OF the M
ferior should be enabled 10 employ enough
mining experts TO examine the validity OF
all mineral land claims ana 10 undertake
the supervision and control OF the use ol
the mineral fuels still belonging TO the
United states.
vidual entry to 100 acres puts a premium
on fraud by making II Impossible to de-
yelop certain types OF local neids and yet
comply with the law. It is scandal 10
laws which sound Wen, put
which make fraud the key without which
great natural resources must remain
closed The law should give individuals
and corporations Under proper govern
ment regulation and control (the details or
which / shall not at present dLscuss,D the
right TO work bodies of coal lands large
for profitable development
Ny own belief is that there should be
provision for leasing COAL oil and gas
rights under proper restrictions, IL the ad-
ditional force of special agents and min
ing experts / recommend Is provided and
well used the result will be not only TO
stop the land frauds but TO prevent de-
LAYS in patenting valid land claims and TO
the indispensable fuel resources
Of the nation.
PRIVATE HOLDINGS.
The boundaries OF the national forest
reserves unavoidaby include certain val
liable timber lands not owned by the gov
ernment. Important among them are the
land grants OF various railroads, For more
than two years negotiations with the land
grant railroads have been in progress
looking towards an arrangement by which
the forest on railroad lands within ma
tional forest reserves may be preserved
BY the removal OF the present crop OF
timber under rules prescribed by the for
est service and its perpetuation may be
assured by the transfer OF the land to the
government without cost IL is possible
that legislation will be required TO author
ze this or a similar arrangement with the
railroads and other owners. II so, / rec
,mmend that II be enacted.
WORKING CAPITAL FOR FORESTS.
The money value of the national for
'sts now reserved for the use and bene- |
II OF the people exceeds considerably the |
sum of one thousand million dollars The |
itumpage value OF the standing timber |
seven hundred million dollars |
Ind together with the range and timber |
ands the water for irrigation and power |
Ind the subsidiary values, reaches an |
amount equal 10 that OF the national |
property now under the immediate con- |
rol OF the army and navy together.
But this vast domain is withheld from |
'erving the nation as freely and fully as |
{ might because OF the lack OF capital 10 |
levelop II. The yearly running expenses |