The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-29

big Western circuits.
disposition of our government coal
lands, phosphate lands, oil and ga.
lands, and of the lands known as
water power sites at the points on the
streams where the water power mus,
ne converted in order to be useful.
curing Mr.: Roosevelt's administration
millions of acres Of lands included
WITHIN the classes described We're with
drawn in the United States proper
ond IN Alaska, in order to await proper
legislation Doubt arose as to the
executive power to make these with
drawals, and therefore as to theis
legality. should they be contested in
court. The present administration con-
'tfnued the executive Withdrawals. but
suggested, as a matter OF wise precau-
ton, securing from Congress express
power to make them BY Republican
,najorities in both houses with
drawah bill for this purpose was On.
acted, and now over 100000 of acres
have been rewithdrawn of lands In
cluded within the classes described
Much of the land reserved aG coal
lard is valuable for agriculture, ami
therefore Congress adopted an entirely
feasible and useful plan by which tbs
homestead laws were applied to the
surface of the land. while the coal In
the ground Is still reserved as the
new departure in our land laws, ana
is highly to be commended. In addition
to this, 1t was deemed necessary. In
order that certain reclamation pro-
iects OF the government should be
completed within reasonable time.
that an issue of s2o.oo0,o00 bonds
should be authorized with which to
secure water for the settlers upon
government lands within the promise
of the project, the bonds to be re-
j. 1, -. fsN,, tt,.s
vice rendered. In this way hundreds
OF settlers who have been patiently
waiting for the completion of the pro-
1ects and suffering great privation will
be rehabilitated. AT the same time
the law authorizing the bond issue
prevents the expenditure of any of the
proceeds of the bonds In any of the
gineers shall report the same as
worthy and feasible. Moreover. addi-
tlonal provision has been made In the
APPROXIMATION laws for money with
, wnicn TO carry on surveys of unsur-
n ceseu pecic lands crying need in
~ Is not too much to say that most
Pllances for the prevention of accidents
ward the proper conservation Of onr
resources In the legislation of the
psesen. congress, There remains to be
considered and settled the question
OF the method of disposing Of these
lands so that the government NAV
retain sufficient control to prevent a
monopoly In their use and to sesl,re
en -, puplic AGAINST extortion for coal,
~ sas, Pnos phate, or water power on
the one hand, and yet may give to
private capital sufficient inducement
TO orlng about normal deyelopme1lt
or the wealth contained In these lands
70 aid IN the building up of the coun-
f5y. Nelther the Democrats Of the
30
ate as body, although their plat.
form formally declared in favor OF
conservation, have taken any active
part or can be counted upon to assist
nateTially In the solution Of these
complicated questions.
Another subject of pressing import,
ance Is that OF the Improvement Of our
waterways. The present Congress has
enacted rivers and harbors bill APP
propriatlng more than $41.000,OoO for
defined plans for the permanent i'm
proyement of rivers and harbors with
In O certain period. and in addition
authorizing contracts to be entered
into. subject to future appropriations
BY BY &c Congress. aggregating over s1o,-
c!sm IN that it still continued the old
.piecemeal system and appropriated
something, for nearly every project
recommended by the army engineers.
~ 40 iiopcu ttIlu DeIeFeQ IldC III Llo
next session and thereafter the engi-
PEERS Will so make their recommends
tions as to indicate the projects OF
greater Importance. so that adequate
sums, may be appropriated for their
completion within a reasonably short
time and the piecemeal policy of ex-
tending the construction Of improve
ments of this kind indefinitely for
years may be abandoned.
Other Pledges Redeemed. \.
The Republican platform promised
that It would admit to statehood the
Eona, and that promise has been re-
deemed with suitable provisions Tor
securing good and sane constitutions
OF the States by requiring .their adop
officers, and their submission to Con-
gress for consideration, and posslp!e
rejection at one of Its sessions.
All this long list of useful enact
ments was promised In the lRepupncaIl
platform, and has been put through
by Republican majorities. ~,
Congress has also enacted INTO tuW,
in accordance With the promise WniGih
I made as a candidate for the pre,sls
dency, bill requiring the publicat1ona
detailed statements OF the money re-
ceived by them and the money en-
pended by them in the political can q
vass OF each congressional ca.la, luz .
In addition, the present Consa,Ssss
has appropriated 100000 to enag! i
the executive to Investigate and MAKE ,s,,
recommendation as to the infamous ~
which the cost of running the govern ~, !.
ment may be reduced. ] REGARD .n N 3
last as one OF the most importapt pap. ~
of the administrations policy. an y,
confident that II full oppnrtnnity =
given, and a Republican Congress "a
elected to assist, the cutting Gown ~
the national expenditures by the a ~ i,
.tipn of modern economic methods ~ !