The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-06-12
A PUBLIC LAND CONVENTION.

Iu view of efforts that have been
made to change the federal land laws,
and to adopt some method Of deriving
revenue from leasing portions of the
public domain. a convention to be
held 10 Denver is of considerable in
terest 70 residents of western states.
The programme committee Of the con.
veutiou has issued a statement regard.
ing conditions that make discussion
Of public land matters desirable at
this time, its address being ia part to
this effect:
Recently there has apparently been
a decided change in the policy of the
government in regard to public lands.
The new policy seems to involve the
perpetual ownership and control OF
these lands by the United States un.
der conditions that approach danger.
ously near the assumption Of munich.
pal sovereignty. Areas of the public
lands, 10 some states approximately q
quarter aud more OF the total area OF
the state. have been taken active pos.
session Of by the government and
Withdrawn from settlement under the
laws. Congress has had but little to
do with this change in policy, and it
seems to have resulted largely through
a delegation of authority to the ex.
ecutive branch Of the government to
''make rules and regulations in re.
gard to the areas withdrawn.
This change in policy started with a
little eight.line amendment to an ap.
propri alton bill made near the close
Of a session, March 3, 1891. This lit
tie act, imperfectly understood and in.
serted without debate, authorized the
president to set aside timber lands as
forest reserves. If any one thought
OF the matter at all at tina time. it was
th at a few sections of valueless lands
lear the headwaters Of streams in the
mountain sections would be put into
reserves. At first but a few small
tracts were set aside under this act,
but President Cleveland i nally made
some wholesale Withdrawals, and the
subsequent presidents followed suit,
until now the forest reserves total ap-
proximately l4O, 000, 900 acres, an area
greater than is contained in all the
New England states, with New York,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland
and Virginia added.
In June, 1897, the forest reserves
having already reached large proper.
tions, congress passed an act author
izing the secretary of the interior to
make rules and regulations to protect
them and to regulate their occupancy
and use. In 1905 the government. of
the reserves a transferred to the de-
partment Of agriculture.
Under the rules and regulations put
in force by the departments, the gov
eminent has o actually assumed
control OF this vast area of land. The
timber is being cut and sold. The
United States has assumed active pos.
session of the lands as a proprietor,
is utilizing the resources for profit,
and has assumed what is practically
municipal jurisdiction over these areas
within the states.
While congress has tentatively &C
cepted this new policy by enacting a
number Of laws which apparently &C
q~uiesce in what has been done, 9
proposition to extend the authority O
the secretary of agriculture over the
balance of the public lands failed to
pass the last session of congress. Thi:
proposed enactment was introduced IL
the form of an amendment % the ag
r%icultural appropriation bill, and wa
debated at length in the senate befor'
it was ruled out or a point of order
, 1t proposed to give the secretary o
agriculture the right to organize tn
entire territory of the states contain
ing public lands into grazing districts
. aud regulate and control grazing un
Q der such rules and regulations as tn
. secretary might prescribe, and charg
I and collect fees for grazing thereon
In July of last year, by order Of tn
y president, practically all Of the publ
lands known to contain merchantab
i. coal were Withdrawn from entry. Thi
) was done for the announced purpos
. of having congress enact a law pro
0 viding for the leasing Of the coal land
a rather than continuing their sale, a
now provided by law Congress faile
n to enact q law for the leasing OF II
coal lands as suggested, but the III;
e jor portion of the sixty.four millio
y acres OF coal land originally will
n drawn is still in q state of ATTIC
from entry, notwithstanding the la
which makes them subject to entry.
DENl AlAAlMC I AMMO