New-York tribune., 1909-12-05
ALASKA COAL LANDS
BENNETT REPORTS.
Light on Cunningham Claims
and Conservation Poicy.
rrrom The Tribune Bureau


a. thrown on the Cunningham claims 20
.,sska coal lands and the conservation
rolicv of the present administration by
ne report q Pred Dennett. Commissioner
:. ,he General Land once. 20 the Secre-
,s-v ~ the Interior. Commissioner Den
sft does not mention the Cunningham
,.iras ~ name. but he asserts that only
,birrv-three ertries for Alaska coal lands
are nov pending under the act OF June G.
zoe. and the act 81 April IS. lses. and
,hst none are pending under the act Of
NAV IS. lsoS The thirty-three entries
-eferred &c are the Cunningham claims.
,hst being their total number
The fsct that there are no claims pend
,ng under the act % May IS. 1905. Mr.
Dennett believes. clearly disprOves the
assertion made in many quarters that the
interpretation of that act by the Assistant
secretary 81 the Interior. Mr. Pierce, had
. bearing on the Cunningham claims
Tie Cunuinghams have never made entry
under the act 81 MAY. IS0s. ana the rea-
,on therefor i probably 10 be found in
the stringent anti-monopoly provision that
act contains. Mr.. Dement'S statement
rhat congress appropriated $1,000. 600.
available IN the fiscal year ending June
g. 1910. for the protection OF public
lands etc" throws. by implication. some
light on the part PLAYED by Special Agent
Claws ~ the charges he recently sub
rnitted 70 the President. IL was because
Il this appropriation that the Department
n ths Interior regarded itself as bound
hv the mandate Of Congress 10 insist on
expeditions work by Claws. which in
>istence he represented as intended 20
r-eiudice the th0roughness OF his investi-
cations. emitting 20 say that the order 10
w6rk rapidly was accompanied by an orfer
q al re assistance he might require
BALLLNGER's POLICY.
Commissioner bennett shows the oontinu-
10 of policy OF SsretsEy RaIlinger by
ca1ting from the rsJort Of Mr.. BsIinger
when he VAS Commissioner Of the General
Land Grhce, II which he said:
The object 10 be attained :s 20
couse~ve TIE coal deposits a. public
utility and 10 prevent monopoly and OK
io-ton m their distributor. Tnis NAV De
scConpl shed elther Through leasing sys-
TEN. hy which the title would remain in
the E1EsrnMent under proper regulation
and supervision of the Secr.tary OF the IN
ierior. or through the sale OF the deposits
win restrictions on their mining ond use
and conserve the deposits as a public util-
i'y. under similar regulations.
Mr. bennett shows that President Roose-
vet IN his message 20 the first session OF
IRE sth congress Endorsed the position OF
Commissioner Ballinger. as well as that
taken by Commissioner bennett regarding
the area ~ coal lands entersble under the
existing iaT.
WATER POWER SITES
Discussing ths great water powers on
Ihe federal domain, Mr.. bennett SAYS:
That Z; Is tie duty Of the government.
either acting directiy or by intrusting II 70
Individual 4. t1 utilize these vast forces
rle-t can 1e no question II has not here
t0tore been the policy OF this government
10 undertake that which might be more
adiarLaEeoLsiy accomplished By the cit
Ter. p. brain and brsWn OF the indiEid-
Lsi, acting and operating for the benefit
at himself snd those dependent upon him
nave produced the wealth that makes this
COUNTRY iHr uchest nation on earth, and
any policy which would substitute the ac-
rrities ot the government for those Of the
rriyzte citizen, except IN the performance
heoaUse ~ rhe immensely OF the UNDER
taxing refuses 10 act. would be a mistake
Common ownership. should not pass into
rhe COT -rr4 OF mOnODOlles and unlawful
rusts. Dor should Jhey be withheld from
lse While h would be- & political blunder
% permit them 70 pass into the exploitation
~ small part OF TIE people. IL would be
sn economic crime % Withhold them per-
permit a part % the people 20 enrich them
selves at the expense OF the great majority.
10 re feW in order 10 enjoy the privileges
mat these vast forces offer TO all The
CtieT would destroy ST. opportunity ana
render these natural resources inert and
worthless
Tracing rle history Of the governments
policy in dealing with the public domain.
Commissioner bennett outlined three De-
roas-that or SAFE, that OF Development and
nat Of reservation. He shows that follow
nc the War o. the Revolution tie central
g1Termert asked the states 20 cede 10 II
iaef public lands which II was purposed 20
SELL the proceeds 70 be devoted 10 the pay
neni " me public debt Then came tire de-
f-i'Iulet- 1t "a great West, when, begin
ING WIN Tie Homestead act. every facility
"a EXTENDED ~ bona tide settlers who were
Nl.i.g 10 convert the prsiries Of the from
~ lai0 agricultural lands and ranges
Ne SHOWS how the generosity Of the na-
N'- cane to be abused, how the extrsva-
SAN policy ~ dealing with The seemingly
t-aiess pralrles and lirniIlsss forests came
Ultimately 10 be modified By that spirit OF
'''rf'auol which has finally taken con-
zee iorn under the term conservation.
lis Conservation policy the Commission
heartily ndorses. It's prosecution. how
''5r, ~ Insists. must be carried on so far
e ile executive branch OF the government
concerned. within the powers delegated
y u Uy Congress-