The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-12
STATE MAY AVAIL
ITSELF OF BENEFITS
Shall Not Part fee-SimpIG Title
10 Lands, But Merely
Grant Leases

Senator Reed Smoot of utah has
Introduced a bill in the senate, which,
4 it becomes a law, will 80 Tar to-
aald solving the problem OF consor'
| alion OF water power sites ana salts.
| ying the demands OF the states
| hghts advocates who view with
darn the increasing control by the
federal government OF public lands.
The first section broadly authorizes
| The president TO withdraw from All
forms Of settlement or entry any
ands Of thc United States which are,
Or may become, chiefly valuable for
The development OF water power
10 this general authority is sup.
glementcd the right 70 purchase the
DossessorY rights Of any locator TO
lands previously filed upon that may
be deemed necessary for the full
utilization of the lands Withdrawn for
he development OF water power
In the case the locator Of lands
wanted for power site purposes will
not consent to sale to the govern
rent, authority is provided for pro-
eeding By condemnation suit under
he exercise Of the right OF eminent
Juman
State MAY Avail Itself Of Benefits
ii is provided that any state or
territory desiring to avail itself OF
he provisions of the act shall on be.
ing authorized by its legislature,
make proper filings and application
to the secretary Of the interior aud
ne shalt issue patent to such state
u territory to the lands applied for.
The conditions under which the
uateni shall issue will be warmly ap-
proved by the conservationists. In
fact, they are more radical than has
ever been advocated.
In the first place the state or ter
ritory shall not part fee-smple title
be lands, but shall retain the same
COR the uses and purposes set forth
In the act, merely granting leases for
specified periods
The lands shall be devoted "pri'
parily to the development Of water
power, either by said state o. terri
tory, or by municipal corporation
or corporation therein, or by somt
Ucrson or pc sons, association or cor
poration duly authorized.
Another section will meet with VIC
tent opposition from power companies
all over the land It provides that
the state Or territory shall reserve
he right, either by express stipula
zion or by law to fix at stated In
teryals of ten years, reasonable rates
20 be charged by "any such person
association or corporation for tho
supply and distribution Of the power
developed on said lands"
A section Is also included express
ly forbiddlng any person, association
or corporation acquiring lease t
such lands entering into a comhina
ton "in restraint Of full and unfe
stricled competition In the business
Of developing, distributing or sell
ing power and which may have 70
lts purpose or effect the monopollza
ion of the business"
eases May &c Cancelled BY state
IN addition 10 any other remedy
may have in such case power i
eiyen the state for the cancellation
of the lease,
The anti-pinchot element hay'
lurged as one Of their chief con
plants against the operation Of hi
policy with respect TO forest resefva
tions that miners are prohibited frol
lentcring upon lands so included Tb
smoot bin takes care Of that ohie'
ton In the following words "Prr
vided, that nothing in this act sha
prohibit any person from enterln
thereon for the purpose Of prOspec
) ing, locating and developing the mil
eial resources thereof
Former Senator Henry NJ. Telle
now a membe- of the United state
Monetary commission, gives Il as III
opinion that the Smoot bill will b
come law. as the continent d
Washington Is strongly ia favor {
the ideas contained in the bill
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