Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-14

duce healthy competition and meet all de- !
mands; and yet In all cases the general |
such as 10 CD prevent waste in the extrac-
ton and handling OF these fuels; Cd the
system can be operated in such manner as
TO prevent the evils Of monopolistic con-
troll: 90 II will permit the government 20
reserve from general control fuels espe-
special industries; and 90 IL will enable the
government to protect the public agains.
Unreasonable and discriminating charges
Already probably one-half Of the total
area OF the high grade Goals in the west
ing both the Ignite and the coal areas.
these private holdings probably aggregate
not less than 100000 acres of coal heldk
With the remainder OF the lands contain
ing mineral fuels reserved and leased by
the government, there Will be ample op-
portunity to determine in the near future
which OF the two systems-private owner
ship, or the leasing system with general
government supervision-will best protect
mote the permanent development Of the
west.
Government should he Generous.
In planning such a leasing system by
the government, the question of revenue
beyond that necessary TO cover the ex-
penses of administration and exploration,
need not be seriously considered. The spirit
/ OF generosity which the country as whole
has shown In connection with the disposal
/ of its public lands and the use Of the
/ proceeds from the sale OF these lands for
/ the further development of the west
/ through the reclamation service and other
in other ways, is Of itself sufficient
! both the coal reserves and the national
| forests, this generous policy will be con
! unued. 1t is safe to believe also that fed
/ eral supervision Of both the coal lands and
the forests will be reduced to a minimum
| and that in the future even more than In
| the past this supervision will be limited to
| that necessary to carry out the policy Of
| conserving these natural resources in such
/ manner as win best promote the perma-
| neDt interests of the DaODie. and above
! all, Of the western people and tho people
in the neighborhood OF the mines and the
! forests which We seek TO preserve for the
public use.
The necessity for care in the future man
| agement of these fuel supplies is further
illustrated by the rapid rate at which the
use Of such fuels is Increasing in use.
This remarkable development and the Ger
compels us TO recast ali estimates as to
the life of our 'inexhaustible resources"
| We can foresee the time when the eastern
industries will be much more largely taxed
for supplying foreign markets.
II would surely be greatly to the ad-
Of the coal fields OF the east and espe-
cially OF the anthracite fields, had been
Ieat under ro me control OF the governmeni
4 recurrence OF the conditions which we de-
plore In the east. At the outset the law
broadcast liberality, with the least possible
interference with the development of the
say SSt ali laws Which too merely e
seek to prevent monopoly or the mishand-
ling Of the public by forbidding combina-
One experience with interstate commerce
and antitrust laws shows that what Is
lions. but such superyison and contpol V oHer
combinations. and over corporations enter
ing into them. as will prevent the evils
while giving to the public the advantages
Of combination.
i Control of Pasture Lands.
Let me also again urge that legislation
be passed to provide for government con-
troi OF the pasture lands Of the west or
the same general principles which now
apply in the government control Of the
range should be in the hands OF western
men familiar with stock raising and there
should S be fun local participation in the
need at present that the government
! should get net revenue from grazing on
for administration and Improvement, and
. y may be wise TO provide that any surplus
/ shan go to the states and territories In
Let me urge that congress provide 500, ooo
In addition TO the present estimates. TO he
Of arrears OF business in the general land
ONCE as regards the detection and proven
. for patents to the public lands
plete dissent from the. statements that
: minimum OF fraud IT. the actual working
, OF our present land laws. / am exceed
, bona de settlers and St to prevent ' hsTdshr
. being inflicted upon them. But surely we
are working in their interests when we try
to prevent the land which should be re-
served for them and for those like them
: from being taken possession of for specu.
4 lative purposes or obtained in any fraudu-
5 lent fashion.
! The president says the present force OF
!, special agents Is utterly insufficient 4
conduct the proper field examinations bu
adds that in six months. ending Decembe
81 last. they secured indictments in 10
i actions for fraud. twenty-six OF which hav
I been tried. resulting in fourteen convic
y lions and twelve aeauittals. In the fores
. reserves. where we have been able TO ex
y anime a great number Of claims. he adds
in about one-third the law was not com
3 piled with. The message concludes:
s From the standpoint Of the public inter
: Is peculiarly serious, because In so ma a.
d cases the success OF the fraudulent claim
0 ant means the prevention OF the establish
y ment OF home by some homeseeker. tn
earnest wish Of the administration Is I
discontinue the advertisement Of fraud q
connection with the public land system
: but the only way 10 accomplish this Is b.
} putting a stop 70 the fraud itself.
Modification OF order.
President Roosevelt today told Repre-
sentative Stevenson Of Minnesota, that h
e made a modification Of his suspension orde
a OF January Is. relatingto entries on publ
7 lands which would except from the opera
: tons Of the order all homestead proofs o
: ceded Indian lands where there are deferre
payments. The exceptions 10 the operatio
L l,of the general order made by the presden
> does not. In the opinion Of the NOrthwester
Representatives. go far enough and the
continue Ia their efforts TO obtain furthe