The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-01
FOR WESTERN INTERESTS,

In view or the oilers made TO lease
Government coal lands in Alaska and
pay for them in royalties by the hun
dreds of millions Of dollars, the Spokane
branch of The American Mining Con-
gross is out in protest. This branch
foresees that the leasing proposition
will probably not be cofned to Alaska
If it is seriously entertained by Con
gress, but will be made the general rule
rs TO coal, and possibly also as to other
mines. That would make the Govern
ment direct participant and partner in
The mining business. a letter from the
Hon T. w. Mondell, Representative of
Wyoming, and Chairman Of the House
Committee on Public Lands, is quoted in
the letter transmitting the action of the
Spokane branch of the American Min
ing Congress as follows:
| L had hoped that the President would
| be less radical In his views with regard
| to so-callcd Conservation" than is indi
Gated by his message OF To-Day. The
message is radical, and the bills which
| have been proposed by the Interior De-
| partmcnt 10 carry these views into ef
| feet are even more radical. II possible,
! than the message itself II is exceed
| lnHlA. Important lHdl OUT WCSlGlll people
should stand as a unit against the plans
which have been proposed 10 fix Federal
| llandlordiSm bureaucratic control over the
wcst.-to treat our western resources as
q national asset The plans OF Stale So
ciallsm and bureaucracy have largely
originated with the Forestry Bureau and
the Geological Survey They have been
tions. 10 build up. with the aid OF the
sational magazine writers, senti-
ment that threatens serious injury to the
-ts.N. Il
unitcdly against il.
Representative Mondell has been re.
ported in the dispatches rs refusing to
indorse and be responsible for the bills
proposed by the President, and in the
brief extract from the letter quoted
there is certainly good reason why he
should thus refuse. We believe that he
is on entirely solid ground in this. ant
believe also that the West should stand
as unit on the propositions and ques
tions Involved.
The resolutions adopted by the Spo
kane Branch of the American Mining
Congress were passed at "A meeting bclc
January cath, and are as follows:
Whereas the Honorable Secretary o
report. and there are now bills pending
In Congress looking 10 a complete rev
: sion of The laws relating 10 coal land
4 and coal mining, which have already in
. dlcated an increase I'm the purchase pric
l of $500. 900 acres OF coal lands 200 pc
D cent. or 500 ,000. 900, and upon the sam
basis OF classification will ultima tely IN
crease the price upon 1880 600 acre
about 200 per cent, OF; 500 900 600 all O
q which must. eventually be paid by III
consumers. and t. Is further proposed I
s sell the land and the coal thereundc
q separately
o the members of the Spokane Branch {
the American Mining Congress deem tina
the proposed legislation is unfair 10 III
masses Of the western people aud place
o an unjust burden on the present and un
born generations OF one part OF the coun
20 therefore. be interpreted as class legis
! laiion. BE II further
% Resolved. That the price of coal Ian
- should remain as now and that III
state should be required 10 pass legis
IatiOn to prevent monopoly. and bas
sT for equitable TAXATION. Be " further
:. Resolved. That we. tho members OF tn
- organization. instruct the secretary an
io request the president TO forward coDi'
"a OF these resolutions 10 the national OF
- ganization OF the American Mining Cor
le gress TO officials. national and state. o.
ganizations. newspapers and individual
who may be interested in this subject.
as Unless the West rises up i'll its ow
d. defense against the encroachments {
TO the East and protests against the deni
at TO our people OF the use of the natur