Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1907-01-02
SAVING THE LANDS
 OF THE PEOPLE

mains of government lands are welcome to honest citizens. Tho unsold portion of the public domain is the richest property the people hold in common. That is has been the prey of dishonest schcmcrs is well known. Some of the worst land thieves were members of trinis that resulted in their conviction.
 Within tho last few years, through rcsolutc measures pushed by Secretary Hitchcock, with the active approval of the President, the plundcrcrs have been put on the run. IL is the cxccu. tive department that is to be thanked for turning the searehlight upon the robbers, some of whom were intrcnchcdl in Congress itself. Senator Teller criticiscs Secretary Hitchcock for an alleged attempt to reserve more of the public lands than the law warrants. The laws are paramount, and equally binding upon the President, his Cab inct, Congrcssmen and the humblest citizen. But what did Senator Teller ever do toward fcrrcting out the crimes of Senator Mitchell, Representative
 Hermann and other of his colcaguesi The Senator's virtuous indignation over real or supposed lcgnl inadvcrtancc on the part of those who are making n difficult fight to prevent land thcfts would be more impressive if some of it had been manifested against thc thieves themselves, who have tried by all the sinister means and influences in their power to smirch the Secretary E character and crush him in his brave struggle with cunning land pirates.
 Congress has done less than it's duty. and has sometimes mistaken its duty, in dealing with the public lands. As n consequence the dcspoilcrs have been busy, and even planted their tcnnclcs in Congress itself. Some of ibc exist. ing land laws ought to he repealed or radically amended. Corporations have Hooked in to turn the timber and stone act to their selfish uses. In it's pres. cnt shape the desert land law is pro. life of fraud promoted by spectators, and the communication clause of the homestead act is industriously worked by loan and mortgage companies, so that the lands are practically taken up by money brokers. Mining land claims arc another source of cheating. Enor. nous losses have been caused by the interruptions speculative class with money fo spend to carry on n system of bogus bomesteading and settlement, thus acquiring the lands by n counter. felt compliance with the laws There is no sufficient connection between tine working of the land laws and their intent. The objects for which they genuine, but their defect is that they have encouraged and enriched many bands of thieves who have plucked the government and the people with as much impunity as old bunko operators show in dealing with grccnhorns.
 The official estimate of the money value of the national forest reserves is over $l,000,000,0 of which over two. thirds is in standing timber Another great item in the reserves is the water for irrigation and power
 Indian lands are n rclegatcd sub cct, and SO are government coal lands. No one doubts the honesty and sincerity of the President when he says: "I am greatly concerned at the extremely m condition of the public | land laws, and the prevalence of fraud | under their present provisions. For much of this fraud the present laws are chiefly responsible. ''
 Has Senator Teller, who affects to tower in righteous wrath over Secrc. fary Hitchcock, ever done anything to amend the laws that afford huge loop. holes for fraudl The people, who own Inc lands, thank the President and Cabinet for their efforts to protect the public land from thieves, and urge Con. ,ress to get busy in the same honorable md fruitful work.