The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-06-21

lar fashion. Our present public land
laws were passed when there was Il
vast surplus Of vacant public land
and when the chief desire was to Sc
cure settlers thereon. Little atten-
tion was paid to the details affecting
the disposal of the lands and lax ex-
ecution of the law became the rule.
Land frauds were common and little
noted. These frauds are now being
stamped out and vigorous efforts are
bein" made to enforce the law.
Public Lands Belong TO Public.
The danger of allowing the public
lands to pass into the hands Of few
men was pointed out, and the neces-
sity for the conservation Of the for
ests stressed. The mineral fuels Of the
Eastern States are already in the
hands Of large private owners. Steps
should be taken to see that the same
thing does not follow In the West.
The mineral fuels should be conserv-
ed, not wasted, as is the case under
private ownership very often, and
enough of them should remain i'll the
hands Of the Government to protect
the people against unjust or extor-
tionate prices so far rs that can still
be done. There are at present some
800 million acres of public domain,
open to the free grazing Of cattle,
sheep. horses and goats without res
friction or regulation. This land Is
now being skinned by men whose on
ly concern is to get what they can out
Of it at the moment, careless as to
whether or not it is ruined in the pro-
cess. The only remedy is to give con-
troll Of this range to the Government
Waterways Needed.
The inability Of the railroads of
the United States to meet the de-
, mands upon them has drawn public
attes.tion forcibly to the use Of our
: Waterways for transportation. But it
is obvious that this is only one OF
,, their many uses, and that a planned
and orderly development is impossi-
Bile except by taking into account all
the services they are capable OF rem
,, dering. 1t was upon this ground that
the in'n,"d waterways commission was
recently appointed. Their duty is to
propose n comprehensive plan for the
Improvement and utilization Of those
great waterways which are the great
potential highways or the country.
Their duty is also to bring together
the points of view OF all users OF
sire: ms. and to submit a general plan
for the development and conservation
of the vast natural resources. Clearly
it is impossible for the waterways
commission to accomplish its great
task without considering the relation
! of streams to the conservation amt
use of all other natural resources.
As illustrative of the Importance
which he attaches to this subject, the
/ President declared that even such
questions as the regulation of raj
way rates and the control Of corp"r-
ations are in reality subsidiary to the
preservation in the interests OF the
whole people Of the resources that
nature has given us. IF we fail to
! scve this problem no skill in solving
| the others will in the end avail us
very greatly.
i An Inheritance Tax.
| Taking up the matter OF taxat''l;
/ Mr. Roosevelt stated that most great
civilized countries have an income
tax and an Inheritance tax, and de,
clared that, in his judgment. hoii'
should be part Of our system Of Fed
cral tcxation. AS to the first he
spoke briefly and di(fidently, i'll
view Of the decision Of the Supreroe
Court declaring unconstitutional one
such scheme of taxation, and because
Of it's difficulties in the way Of ad'
mnistration. As to the latter he de-
clared it would serve the purpose OF
having the swollen fortunes Of the
country bear in proportion to theil
size a constantly increasing burden
Of taxation.
"These fortunes,' he continued
"exist solely, because Of the protec'
tion given the owners by the public
! They are a constant source Of care
1 and anxiety to the public, and it is
cminently just that they should b(
forced to pay heavily for the protec
ton given them. It is, of course, ele
| ..o,,t n ~, 4Lot flo =, t;o,, hoe Tho ohco