Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1910-12-14
COMMITTEE INDICATES
SECRETARY bALl|NCER


coal lands to an appropriate
court hearing and . decision.
Concerning the future Of Alaskan
coal lands, the report makes definite
in favor Of tao less.
ing system, which was alss favored
by President Taft in his message
to congress. The recommendation
follows. 49,
"The committee believes II would
be the height Of unwisdom 10 permi.
these great coal fields TO be monop.
lixed or gathered into the private
ownership Of a few for speculative
purposes. As they increase in value
the increment should inure 70 the
benefit Of all the people.
,~"To bring about this result and
at the same time pat an cad. to the
unreasonable condition now existing.
your committee recommends thst the
government sefuse 70 cell the lands
hut that retaining their ownsrship
il shall grant leasS at fair royalties
for limited periods, long enough, and
covering areas large enough 70 just.
fy the necessary investments upon
sound business principles, and taus
secure the opening aud operation Of
sufficient mines 10 meet the nscess.
tiles Of Alaskan consumption; affords
relief from the present outrageous
prices paid by consumers, and At
the same time afford some revenue
to the government. We recommenh
legislation TO that end, and that pend
ing such legislation the existing with.
drswsl from entry Of Alaska coal
lands he made.
As TO the conduct of Mr.. CLAWS
in the long period in which the Al
sska coal claim eases were under mis-
control ne special agent Of the land
office, the report declared he had
sufficient time and abundant assist
sncs to make the field examination
which he mad demanded.
In this connection the committee
says: "If his demand was in good
faith, CLAWS was grossly remiss in
HE duty in not having the examins
ton made then"
Commenting upon the blanket with
drswsls Of public lands which were
made by James r. Garfield, when
secretary Of the interior; the essn'
mittee says this action was taken
by him after be had ascerained he
would not be resppointed by 'PresI
dent Taft. II Is said these with
drawsls were made haphssard from
tho mere inspection Of the land Of
flee state maps.
Many Of these lands were restored
to public domain by Secretary Ball
lager and a portion were again set
aside.
The Withdrawals, according to the
committee, were made by Secretary
Ballinger after a "careful sxamins.
ton Of the maps and reports In the
Geological survey, and II 10 held
that the re.withdrawals embraced eli
the power sites in the original blank
et wishdmwals made BY Mr.. 0arfieIs.
The weakness Of the then existing
laws on the subject Of conservation
10 recognized by the committee which
recommends comprehensive BLANKET
Withdrawals ere justified Only sPen
condition Of immediate sxAmination
and restoration Of the iasd not need
ed for the purpose 81 making effee.
tive any action which congress should
zee III 70 make.
1.-THE continnsnes Of the excessive
Withdrawals could not be Justified
day longer than was necessary 70 as
certain what land actually constitute
the supposed power sitcs"
Explaining the sxonerstion Of Mr..
Ballinger because Of his abrogation Of
the Indian cooperative agreement, re
istive 10 logging and numbering on
Indian reservations, the committee
says the secretary found opsrotion'
were being carried on by the Bureau
OF Forestry Of q wastefui nature and
entailing loss TO the Indiana Mnsh
OF this work was done by the EN-
!ployes AT the interior department.
the Indian office and the forest ser.
vice, made during Secretary Gsrfields
administration, constituted 10 the ef'
feet the transfer TO one Of . approp'
priation made to another. He held
this was illegal and vas supported By
an opinion Of the comptroller Of the
treasury.
"The secretary held that tho issue
OF the certificates vas in costrsven'
ton Of the provision Of the reclama'