The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1906-12-20
observation-disclosures
The President Sends a Special Mes
sage to Congress Embodying His
Recommendations.
RADICAL AMENDMENTS ARE SUGGESTED
The Changes Recommended Would
Prevent Land Grabbing by Spec
uIators and Large Corporations
Increase In Number of Special
Agents-The Navy Personnel.

Washington, Dec. 17.-Three mes
sages from the president were re-
ceived by congress Monday and their
reading took practically all the time
Of the senate. The reading was de-
layed In the house by the fact that
II was suspension day. The mes
sages were In relation to the public
land laws and the navy personnel
bill and recounting Of the presi-
dents visit to inspect the Panama
canal. The latter message attracted
great interest because 1t was elab-
orately illustrated showing the work
on the great waterway in It's various
stages. 1t was in the form of very
entertaining story Of the presidents
visit. AS it was read the senators
followed 1t closely from handsomely
bound copies which had been laid
upon their desks.
Regarding public land laws, the
president urges the repeal of the tim
Der and stone act. demands the radi-
cal amendment of the desert land
act; urges the repeal of the commu-
tation clause of the homestead act,
all of which he declares now serve
to turn great tracts of land over
to spectators and corporations.
To prevent the fraudulent acquisi-
ton Of the public lands the president
says he has directed the secretary
of the interior to allow no patent
to be issued to public lands under
any law until, by an examination on
the ground, actual compliance with
the law has been found to exist.
For this purpose an increase of spe-
cial agents in the general land Of
flee is urgently required.
! The president believes that there
should be provision for leasing COAL
oil and gas rights under proper re-
strictions.
He urges the revision and re-en-
actment Of the existing laws affect
ing rights of way and privileges on
public lands and reservation in one
comprehensive act, providing that the
regulations now in force in many
cases may be extended to all.
Legislation Is recommended in line
with the proposal to allow railroads
to consolidate their holdings Of tim
Der within forest reserves by ex-
change after deciding their lands to
the government.
The president recommends that the
secretary Of the treasury be author
lied to advance to the forest service
upon the security OF the standing tim.
Der, an amount say 100000. suf'
ficient to provide q reasonable work
ing capital for the national forests
to bear interest and to be repaid In
arnual installments beginning In ten
years.
Transfer Of the national parks from
the charge Of the secretary of the
Interior to the secretary Of agricul
tnre IL recommended.
The power to create national for
ests by proclamation should be ex
tended to Indian lands. the Indians
to be paid the full value Of land THU
t1lzen.
The president recommends legisla
don which will provide for govern
ment control Of the public range
through the department Of agricul
ture, to Insure to each locality rulei
for grazing specially adapted to III
needs and to authorize the collec
4 Of a reasonable grazing fee. HI
Says he wifi see to It that illega
fences are removed unless congress-
trkes step to legalize proper fenc
ing by government control Of the
range.
Personnel Of the Navy.
In his message regarding the per
sonnet Of the navy. the president
earnestly recommends early consider
6tion q the bin saying that should I
- enaefed into Law Il win cause d