Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-06-02
CONSERVATION TO
Be HANDLED BY
EXPERTS
SEATTLE CHAMBER HAS
NEW IDEA ON SUBJECT
Sane Method of Dealing With
National Craze Proposed to
Members of Congress by
Residents of West.
Morning Journal Bureau,
Gl3 Munsev Building.


The anest suggestion on The ques.
ton Of conservation of natural re
sources has come unexpectedly IRON
the far west. Radical eonserN alton.
lists have r'fd the belief that the Wes'
is overrun vith land, coal and water.
power grapbers. and hat the only way
to preserve the peoples heritage is te
lock it up altogether until a Better
c'ass Of western citizens is produced
vhich may be in the course Of Il ioii
gercratlCns Meanwhile the vast is
Il sttud st.il
Just now western people enio, these
reflections on their honesty and intel
ligence is not known in Washington
| No fair idea Of the western attitude
can be gained from the western repre-
%sentatives in congress, for the reason
that the radical eastern conservatives
have drawn Il sharp line of division
between these representatives.. on
the one side they have placed the so
called '~insurgents' who, apparently
agree that the west is hoaovaombed
by corrurt influ noes; on the othel
81 l.. they have placed al those WiIe
do o agree with them, n there.
fore must be corrupt themselves. II
is part of the radical program to en-
courage pubic suspicion of every mar
who Toes not wholly and fully agree
with them.
The first clear light from the west
comes to the national capital Is a re-
port on conservation recently adopted
by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
'ftfis report, in printed form, has been
received by every member Of The sem
ate and house. and by many promi-
nent officials of the government. 1t
has created a very favorable impress
sion among all who are not dominat-
ed by violent prejudice. This report
proposes that the president shall be
empowered to make temporary with
drawal of lands from sale pending ac-
ton by congress-, and that provision
he at once made for the appointment
of a commission Of able and expert
enced men to investigate the whole
subject. This commission shall report
to congress. at the earliest possible
moment, a basis for land legislation
which, While protecting the public
against Wasteful use Of our natufa
resources and against monopoly, will
mt every acre of good farming land
at the service Of the settler and the
home builder. not as a tenant OF the
government, but as an owner in Zee
Of his own home; and which, as re-
CARDS coal and water power, while
carefully protecting the public against
imposition and unreasonable prices,
win the discovery, opening
and working Of coal mines n deVel-
oDment Of water power, a policy abb
sol,tteh essential to the growth and
prosperity Of these western commune
ties and indeed to the prosperity of
the whole country"
The report is signed by Thomas
Burke. chairman Of the National Al
fairs committee of the Seattle Cham-
her of Commerce, who has supple
mcntod the report by personal letters
to many friends in he senate ana.
house. urging the wisdom OF the
course outlined. An influential New
England senator, who has strongly
favored the conservation ideas, said
a few days ago:
This plan Of Mr.. Burke's is the
hest sligg, stion that has yet Deen
made on the subject. 1t is very eNl-
dent that ongre cannot act intell-
gently or fairly without accurate
knowledge. and such knowledge can
he Gained only by expert Investigation
Seattle Chamber of Commerce
renort points the way to the end of
controversy and ! hope to
see the idea put into effect.