The San Francisco call., 1910-05-04


10 Washington by the independent oil
operators Of California, opposing vigor-
0usly the clause in the Pickett bill
which would invalidate recent entries
upon a vast stretch OF petroleum land.
The question is one of the most i'm
portart that the oil industry has been
called upon 10 face. Holdings valued
at millions Of dollars are affected.
Should the bill be enacted into law as
IL stands, il would cancel the titles to a
rich region i'm Midway and Coalinga.
The protest Of the oil operators has
been reinforced by resolutions Of the
chambers Of commerce Of Bakersfield,
COaHnga and Los Angeles. The citi-
zens Of Taft and other cities in the oil
belt have Joined in the opposition. Del
egations from the vitality affected sec
tiOns Of the state viii go 10 Washing
ton 10 appeal in person TO congress and
the president.
The Pickett bill has passed the house
and is now before the senate commit
tee. It is understood that the commit
tee is impressed with the arguments OF
CalifOrnia's representatives in con-
gress.
SITUATION Is SERIOUS
The situation is regarded as so seri-
ous, however. that the issue is to be
pressed until the danger to the inde-
pendent operators has been effectually
disposed of.
The trouble dates back to the gen.
eral Withdrawal order of Secretary Bal
linger, issued under date of September
p. 1909, when he essayed to eliminate
from public entry a great belt of oil
bearing territory. The order removed
from public entry. for purposes OF
classification, a region extending from
Mt. Diablo TO the San Emigdio range
-s.-l,
areas at Coalinga and the Midway.
It was a sweeping order, without
congressional sanction. and it came al
a time when a good part of the affected
oil belt had already been located and
was being prospected- The validity OF
the Ballinger order has always beer
questioned. The prospecting proceeded
and the opening Of the wonderful
petroleum deposits followed. Posses.
sion has been accepted as title. De-
velopment has continued, sales have
been made and the industry has thrived
The Pickett bill, which has gained
such headway, contains clause rati-
flying the Ballinger withdrawal The
effect Of this. it is apparent, is to cance
title 10 an immense area dotted with
derricks that mark the region of pro
ducing wells. The whole investment
would be lost work carried on in good
faith. purchases made with the besi
intentions would be nullifed. A con-
dition Of chaos would ensue.
CORPORATIONS WOULD CONTROL
But there is something further tc
prompt the protest The .ousting oi
the independent operators would leave
almost the entire oil belt to be ex.
plotted by the Southern Pacific and the
Standard oil company and their sub.
sidiary corporations, whose holdings
would not be affected
BY forcing the wells Of the inde.
pendents to idleness, congress by tn,
passage Of the Pickett bill would max
II possible for the Standard and South.
srn Pacific to continue work. thus per.
hitting them alone to tap the immensc
pool of subterranean oil Naturally
they would not only exploit their owr
holdings. but would drain the oil from
adjoining lands through their owr
wells.
Although many attempts were mad,
to amend the Pickett bill in the house
so as to protect the independent opera.
tors. all efforts failed. 1t was pointed
out that the passage of the bill vail.
dating the Ballinger order Of last Sep.
tember made it retroactive legislation
but nevertheless the measure passed the
house.
TEXT OF BILL
As the Dill went 70 the senate anC
as il now stands Il reads:
A bill TO authorize the president OF
the United States TO make withdrawal:
Of public lands in certain cases.
Be IL enacted by the senate ano
house Of representatives OF the United
States of America. in congress assem-.
bled, that the president be and ht
hereby is authorized to withdraw from
location, settlement, fling and entr,
areas Of public lands in the United
States and the distr.<t of Alaska fol
public uses or for examination and clas.
sifcatiOn to determine their character
and value; and the president is further
authorized, when, in his judgment, pub.
lie interest requires ii. to withdraw
from location. settlement, fling and en-.
try areas Of public lands in the United
States and district of Alaska, whether
classified or not. and submit to congress:
recommendations as TO legislation re.
specting the land so withdrawn
Section 2. That the secretary of the
interior shall report all Withdrawals
made under the provisions of this act e
congress at the beginning of it's nexr
regular session after date of the with
4rawals. specifying the purposes oi