The Washington times., 1907-01-17
Senate Committee Finds
Action Without Author
ity of Law.
Recommends That Coal
Lands Be Sold, Keep
ing Mineral Therein.
Oklahoma May Become
One of Great Coal
Fields of Continent.

Without the authority Of law is the
comment made by the select committee
OF the Senate that has been investigat-
ing the order of Secretary Hitchcock for
Withdrawing from allotment 400000J
acres OF land In Indian Territory. The
committee has been sharply questioning
Secretary Hitchcock as 10 his authority
Tor his action, which was recommended
by Secretary Wilson, with a view 10
creating a huge forest reserve
The committee has made a preliminary
report 10 the Senate Il is signed by
the five members OF the committee,
Senators Clark of Wyoming. Long Of
Kansas, Brandegee Of Connecticut Tel
Ter Of Colorado and Clerk OF Montana.
OF these. Senators Teller and Clark Of
Montana are Democrats.
Committee Wants Time.
The committee asks further time to
submit a supplemental report. In this
il is expected 10 will deal more fuzzy
with Secretary Hitchcock's alleged of
tense. Some talk OF Impeachment has
been INDUCED in, but as Mr.. Hitchcock
viii leave the Cabinet March 4 this is
not taken seriously. The President will
stand by Mr.. Hitchcock 10 the last
surface Of the segregated coal and as
phalt lands. amounting 10 #i4,9s8 acres,
be sold Immediately at the highest price
possible, but that the mineral therein be
retained for the present 10 be disposed
Of later by act OF Congress. The com
mittee discovered the value Of the lands
was less than. had been reported.
Concerning the disposition OF the coal
9HH %.
recommendation is Of especial interest
and Importance 10 the people OF the
Southwest The committee devoted much
attention 10 investigation of this phase
OF the question, and Senator Clark OF
Montana, a practical miner, proved in
valuable In getting at the facts concern
ing this problem. He conducted most
of the examinations OF witnesses. and
time and again confused and Outgen-
eraled the experts who had been sent 10
tell their stories 20 the committee.
Coal Lands to Highest Bidder.
The mai recommendation is that the
surface of the coal lands be sold as soon
as possible, for the best prices obtain
able, with reservation merely of enough
Of the surface 10 provide room for tip
the mine operations. AS 10 the coal un-
demeath. the committee recommends
that il be not sold. This leaves the mat
ter in allegiance
The committee points out that there
is a powerful sentiment IN the new State
OF Oklahoma in favor of the state tax
ing oyer the entire coal deposits. and
it's recommendation OF a policy OF do
ing nothing at present is a concession 10
This interest in the new state Tie COM
mittee IS disposed 10 give Oklahoma
chance, n II wants the coal and can ar
range terms for Its acquisition, 10 give
opportunity Tor such a settlement.
0klahoma's Future.
II this plain should be adopted the
new State Of Oklahoma would be
come the proprietor OF one Of the
greatest coal fields on the continent.
The coal underneath these lands is es-
timated to be worth hundreds Of mil
liOns-pOtenually. Its value as il lies
in the ground is not great. but il repre-
sents an almost ineXhausJible supply II
conserved and carefully worked. The
oklahoma people are anxious that their
state should be endowed with these
properties. and propose. If they make
the arrangement, 10 have the mine
worked under lease. ana with ultimate
control by the State, so that there shall
o De no possibility OF monopoly or eXtOr-
zion.
Another question OF the utmost inter
est IN the Southwest regards the re-
moval or restrictions on alienation of the
indian lands. The committee recon-
mends that restriction be immediat ely