The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-08-09
TO STOP. MONOPOLY
ON \. D. COAL
LANDS
Government Through secre-
tary Takes Important
Step.

A recent Washington dispatch says:
Independence of the coal monopoly
or great strike Of coal miners seems
to be assured by the action taken by
the president and Secretary Hitch
cock.
Secretary Hitchcock has, by direc-
ton of the president, following IA
thorough investigation, issued an order
withdrawing from entry 5000. 900 acres
of public lands which are known to
contain workable coal. These lands
are situated In New Mexico, Colorado.
Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota, Mon
tana. Oregon and Washington.
The geological survey made an ex-
animation In accordance with instruc-
lions from the president and ascer-
tanned that there were 56,00O,00O acres
OF public lands believed to contain
coal DEPOSITS. The president, how
ever. desired the withdrawal of only
those sections konwn to possess work.
able coal. and the area was accord
ingly reduced to 100000 acres.
This gives the government possess
sion of coal lands capable OF supplying
the nation with an indefinite amount
Of fuel. 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 IL he we're
forced to do SO by the failure of the
operators and miners to reach an
agreement and by the suffering which
such failures would entail next winter
He realized that the seizure of
mines would greatly irritate capital
and might cause 1t to grow timid. 1t
probably would consider that the gov
eminent might regard coal mine
seizure as a precedent for similar ac-
ton in other industries. The presi-
dent knew, however, that he would be-
subjected to violent criticism, and
finally, that any of his successors, con-
fronted by similar emergency, might
not care to go as far as he himself
would.
Secretary Hitchcock was informed
through reports that he had received
In an Official way that thousands of
acres Of the public domain have been
entered as agricultural lands, when,
as a matter of fact, the lands are
mineral and are being worked for
coal, cement, asphalt and other
minerals. The prosecutions for fraud
which were commenced in some in
stances for this deception are being
pressed and others will follow.
The president in transmitting the
report of Commissioner If Corpora
tons Garfield on the Standard OIL
corporation. declared that the time
had come when no coal or oil lands
held by the government, either within
the public domain proper or territory
owned by Indian tribes, should be
alienated. The president was of the
opinion that the fee 10 such lands
should be kept in the United States
government and leased on such terms
and for such periods as would enable
the government to keep entire control
of them.
Senator La Toilette introduced
resolutions to attain this end and
Secretary Hitchcock enlisted the SUM-
port of Senator Spooner in the same
direction, asking that a provision be
put in an appropriation bill author
izing the president to locate and With
draw from entry all public coal lands
Congress adjourned without any such
action, however, and the president and
Secretary Hitchcock, after thorough
i"ses'i6dQoH, determined to act with
out more specific authority, resting
upon the belief that the people will
approve the policy which is to prevent
an injury to the public interests.
Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin
played a prominent part in the dis
cussion in the senate on this subject
last winter. He urged vigorously
greater government control of coal. oil
and other mineral lands in the DOS
session of the Indians. The senate.
however, turned down his ideas.
Senator La Follettee's presentation of
the subject attracted the attention of
the president, as It was in line with
the consideration he, was giving the
subject of the government, retaining
possession: of coal Kinds still within
the public domain.