Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-07

ceedlng fifty years. With minimum rental
and royalties upon the coal mined, to be re-
adjusted every ten or twelve years, and
with conditions az 10 maintenance which
will secure proper mining ana as to assign
ment which will prevent combinations TO
mo. opolze control Of the coal In any one
district or market. ! do not think that
coal measures under $500 acres OF surface
would be too large an amount to lease to
any one lessee.
Third-That The law should provide the
same separation In respect to government
phosphate lands Of surface and mineral
rights that now obtains in coal lands and
that power to lease such lands upon terms
and limitations similar to those above rec
commended for coal leases, with added con-
dition enabling the government to regu-
late. and II need be TO prohibit the export
to foreign countries OF the product.
Fourth-That the law should allow pros
pector for oil or gas to have the right to
prospect for two years over a certain tract
OF government land. the right to be EVIL
denced by a license for which he shall pay
a small sum; and that upon discovery
lease may be granted upon terms securing
minimum rental and proper royalties to
the government. and also the conduct OF
the oil or gas well in accord with the best
method for outstanding the supply OF OIL
in the district. The period Of the leases
should be as long as those Of coal, but
they should contain similar provisions as
to assignment to prevent monoponstic COM
binations.
! Fifth-That water power sites be directly
leased by the federal government, after ad-
vertisement and bidding for not exceeding
a araa rrriefa
a condition fixing rates charged to the
pubic for units OF electric power, both
! rental and rates to be readjusted equit-
ably every ten years by arb tration or 9TH
erwise. with suitable provisions against as
sienment to prevent monopolistc combina-
tons. Or that the law shall provide that
upon application made by the authorities
Of the state where the water power site is
situated. II may be patented to the state on
condition that the state shall dispose Of It
Under terms like those just described, and
shall enforce those terms, or upon failure
to comply with the condition, the water
power site and all the plant and improve
ment on the site shall be forfeited and re-
vert to the United States. the president
being given the power to declare the for
fixture and to direct legal proceedings for
its enforcement. Either of these methods
would. think, accomplish the proper pub
lie purpose in respect to water power sites,
but one OF the other should be promptly
adopted.
/ earnestly urge upon congress that al
this session general conservation Legislation
OF the character indicated be adopted. Al
its last session this congress took mos
useful and proper steps in the cause Of
conservation by allowing the executive
through Withdrawals. to suspend the actor
, Of the existing laws in respect to much ol
the public domain. l have not thought tina
the danger Of disposing of coal lands in th'
, United States under the present laws IL
! large quantities was so great as to cal
for their Withdrawal because under thu
present provisions 1t is reasonably GER
tain that the government will receive thu
real value Of the land. But, in respec
, to OIL lands, or phosphate lands, and o
gas lands in the United States, and II
respect to coal lands in Alaska, hav
exercised the full power OF withdrawal witt
the hope that the action Of congress woult
follow promptly and prevent that tying vi
OF the resources OF the country in tn
! western and less settled portion and Ii
! Alaska. which means stagnation and retro
gression.
The question of conservation is not
= partisan one, cad sincerely hope tina
even in the short time Of the present ses
a sion consideration may be given to thos
: questions which have now been much dis
cussed, and that action may be taken upo
= them.
n Alaska.
= With reference to the government o
y Alaska, I have nothing 20 add 70 tn
4 recommendations 1 made in my last mes
~
. the migratory character OF the population
4 It's unequal distribution. and its smallnes
10 Of number, which the new census shows t
e be about $1,000, in relation~to the enormou
Il sxpanse OF the territory make 1t altogethe
IL impracticable TO give to those people VIII
= are In Alaska today and may not be theT
a q year hence, the power 70 elect legisla
ture to govern an immense territory I
!. which they have a relation so little pei
manent. 1t 10 far better for the develop
ment Of the territory that IL be comnitte
~ to a commission TO be appointed by II
executive, with limited legislative power
ie sufficiently broad to meet the local need
h than to continue the present insufficier
)r government with few remedial powers,
to make popular government where thei
In is not proper foundation upon which
~ rest IT,
'ol NANAoAAA EAEAAs
W Our national parks have become so extel
OF sive and involve so much detail of actlC
in their control that II seems to me the
he ought 70 be legislation creating burea
a. for their care and control The create
ID natural wonder Of this country and Il
ID surrounding territory should be Included
re- another national park. 1 refer to the Graz
a. Canyon OF the Colorado.
n Pensions.
be The uniform policy Of the government
en- the matter Of granting pensions to tho
be gallant and devoted men who fought
n save the life Of the nation In the psrilo
h. days Of the great civil war, has a1wa
- been OF the most liberal character. Tho
- men are now rapidly passing away. n
= best obtainable official statistics show tn
they are dying At the rate Of somethi
On over 500 month, and. in view OF th'
advancing years, this rate must inevitab
in proportion, rapidly increase. To t
man who risksd everything on the field
"a battle 10 save the nation in the hour
I'd its direst need, We owe a debt which h
an not been and should not be computed in
IA begrudging or parsimonious spirit. b
49,. IL.