The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-14
PREVENT LAND MONOPOLY,

PREVENT LAND MONOPOLY.
The February number of The Out
look discussing the subject of con-
servation of the public domain of the
United States, says editorially:
With view to the correction of
existing land frauds, three interesting
measures introduced by three North
western members are before the
United States Senate. 1t was APP
propriate that Senator Hansbrough,
of North Dakota, as chairman of the
committee on public lands, should in
troduce bill providing that the gov
eminent shall not hereafter part with
the title to any coal, Ignite. petro-
public domain, the measure being
largely in accord with the recommend
alton made in the presidents recent
message. The bill further provides.
however, that all of the public lands
now withdrawn from settlement as
containing coal be thrown open to
settlement, subject to the above pro-
visions. The bill introduced by Sen
ator La Toilette, of Wisconsin, also
reserves the title to underlying sup
plies of coal, gas, or other fuel and
lighting materials, and proposes to
lease on royalties such lands as priv
ate enterprises may desire to control
for mining purposes; the measure
specifies minimum sums which shall be
charged as royalty. Finally, Senator
Nelson, of Minnesota, introduced last
week a measure which, like the 9TH
ers, would reserve to the government
the title to the hundred million acres
of coal, oil, and mineral lands which
have hitherto been open to entry.
Under the provisions of this bill all
of this land may be leased at a price
to be fixed by the secretary of the
interior, who will thus be able to
regulate the supply of these necessi-
ties and to control the price. Mr..
Nelson would impose the following
conditions on the lessee of govern
ment land:
First-That such lessee should sell
his product to all persons without
discrimination and at just and rea-
sonable price.
Secondhand no lessee should enter
into any combination in restraint of
trade
Third-That no lessee should by
any means attempt to effect or pro-
mote monopoly of the commodity in
which he death. Violation of any
of these provisions will entail for
fixture of the lease.
1t is not necessary for us to esti-
mate the relative value of these
measures. We welcome them all be-
cause they recognize what we believe
to be fundamentally sound economic
principle, that common wealth stored
in the soil belongs to the Nation and
ought not to be put up as prizes in
a quasi lottery to be seized upon by
the most shrewd, energetic, and grasp
ing. The Senate bills and the cour-
ageous course of Mr.. Hitchcock, sec
rotary of the Interior, are a welcome
indication of a permanent and justified
change in our public land policy.
Several hundred erstwhile candi-
dates for county Office before the pri-
maries of last summer are awaiting
with expectancy the decision of the
supreme court in the case of H.
j. johnson VS.. the county of Grand
Forks, and Hans Anderson, county
auditor, being a suit brought to test
the constitutionality of that provision
of the primary law compelling candi-
dates before the primaries to pay a
filing fee in order to have their names
placed upon the official ballot. About
100000 is involved, the total of all fill
ing fees paid last summer amounting
to nearly that sum- Should the de-
cision of the supreme court be a re-
versal of that of the district court,
which this week upheld the law, all
monies paid as filing fees could be
recovered by candidates.
North Dakota's senator's and re-
representatives. in the national capital
are certainly making fine records.
Some of the best legislation of the
present session is theirs. Whether
they be machine or insurgent should
make no difference, providing they
vote right and represent their consti-