Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-06-22
UNITED STATES TO
OWN COAL AND OIL.
President Gets Senator Spooner to Draw
Up New Public Land


WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 1S-
Especial. Senator Spooner will intro
duce a joint resolution in the Senate this
week authorizing the president to make
an examination Of all public lands with
a view to establishing which have coal,
oil. or building materials thereon, and TO
withdraw from settlement such as pos
sess these resources.
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Hitchcock are seeking authority to pre-
vent any further disposal of coal and
oil lands belonging to the government IN
order To protect the American people
from the consequences of another coal
strike.
Senator La FoIlette's Part.
In the course Of debates in the senate
this winter, Senator La Toilette has
urged vigorously greater government
control Of coal, oil, and other mineral
lands in the possession of the Indians.
In order TO insure broad distribution
of the lands Senator La Toilette sug-
gested that not more than 5000 acres be
sold TO any one purchaser. The senate
declined to accept the La Toilette propo
sition. Then he submitted another
amendment prohibiting railroad cOmpa-
MES from buying the lands, which also
was rejected.
Senator la Follette's presentation of
tlliS subject attracted IIt 1IlbItlDH VI
President Roosevelt, as it was III line
with the consideration lie was giving the
subject. 1t is learned that the reference
to Indian coal lands was in direct CON
sequence Of Senator La Eollette's dis
cussion of the subject.
The president had hoped he had suffi-
cient authority under existing law to
withdraw from entry all coal and as
phalt lands lying within the public do
main, but a thorough investigation by
Secretary Hitchcock dscloses that there
is no warrant for such action Attorney
General Moody has not yet rendered his
opinion, but that it will be in line with
the view taken by Secretary Hitchcock
is shown by the arrangements being
made with Senator Spooner to press Il
joint resolution through the senate.
There IS DO doubt that if Senator
SpooneT be successful the House viii
lose no time in approving the resolution.
The government is powcrless under
present conditions to interfere in a coal
strike, and is impotent to arrest. the
monopolistic policy of the Standard Oil
company. But should the Spooner joint
resolution be enacted the government
will be in a position in time of emer-
gency to operate lis own fuel mines.
Babcock's Brother Dead.
Representative Babcock is in Iowa,
called by the sudden death of his only
brother. b. II. Babcock at Cedar Falls.
The deceased resided at the old home of
Representative Babcock in that state.
La Toilette Is Defeated.
Several amendments of the Erie ship
canal bill proposed by Senator La Fol
lette Saturday were defeated.
The construction of the canal, said Mr..
Nelson is of vital Importance to the
great northwest" and means reduced
transportation charges to that section.
Mr.. La Toilette said he objected to the
inference that because he opposed the
bill he was opposed to reduced transpor-
tation charges. He said, The time has
gone by when the transportation compa-
MES can over capitalize with impunity.''
When Mr.. La Toilette concluded Sen
ator Nelson moved to lay on the table
the amendment of the Wisconsin senator
giving the interstate commerce commits
sion supervision of the stock and bond
issues of the canal company. The mo-
ton was carried, Democratic senators
voting in the negative. Mr.. La Toilette
then offered an amendment giving the
secretary of war supervision of evidences
of Indebtedness, but it was also laid on
the table. Next Mr.. La Toilette under
took to have stricken out of the bill the
provision of a sinking fund. The motion
met the fate of it's predecessors.