The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-15


President Roosevelt has again sought to
impress upon Congress the necessity for
legislation 10 conserve the natural re-
sources of the West yet remaining within
the control of the national government
His message Of Wednesday presents the
case strongly Mineral fuels" in the
Presidents view, like the forests and
1aviEable streams. should be treated as
public utilities" To carry this principle
into practical effect he recommends Iegis-
lation to provide for title TO and de
velopmeut of the surface land as sepa-
rate and distinct from the right to the
underlying mineral fuels" and for the
disposal of these mineral fuels under "a
leasing system on conditions which would
inure TO the benefit Of the public as a
whole. The leasing system. the Presi-
dent points out is by no means an I'M
tried policy:
In the Australian countries during the last fifteen
wears coal has been mined under system Of gov
ernment leases and conditions favorable for de-
Vtupmeut that thCiT coal and Cuke are to-day being
sgd on the Pacific coast Of both American c1uti-
Icnts. In all the great coalproducng European
countries except Great Britain coal is being mined
under government leases. In Great Britain leases
are granted almost entirely by the private landovn-
er-. bat there, i'm other countries. The surface
culture and the mining operations are conducted ia
delcndeutly If each other. In Nova Scotia British
Columbia. India and other British colonies gov
errmeut leasing system has been adopted and is
working satisfactorily. In the United States al
Though conveyance Of the mineral rights with the
surface has been the common practice. the separate
development 0f the two interests is increasing. and
i the Eastern and Middle States large pant Of the
cal is being mined under system Of private
leases"
The system proposed by the President
therefore, is analogous not only to the
practice of other nations. but also to that
of our own coal barons Mr.. Roosevelt,
however, proposes to put the government
in the place of the barons This is a
radical proposition. bat we apprehend
that it is radicalism of the sort that will
ind widespread acceptance in the present
temper of the public mind We have
given large liberty in this country to the
development of natural resources through
private ownership and private initiative.
with the result that vast and powerful
moHupOlies in practically all the products
of nature have grown up, and the riches
OF the earth have been transmitted into
great fortunes, very often at the expense
at the public. The President believes that
tbe time has come to adopt a new policy.
Jrat Of conserving the national wealth.
so that those who come after may not be
compelled to pay tribute to oil, coal, and
timber barons. His plan does not con-
template the extinction of private initiative
in development, or shutting the door of
opportunity on the investment of capital
in exploiting natural resources. but only
that ownership and control shall not pass
to the usufructuary. Under such sys-
tenn the prevention of the evils of monop-
oily would be relatively an easy matter.
Unfortunately. there is little disposi-
lion III either House Of Congress to pay
much attention to the Presidents recon-
n.endation of the leasing system. Inter
ests" of various kinds are opposed to the
legislation he desires. and the pressure
for u wide-open policy respecting the dis
position Of the public lands is strong We