Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-06
TAFT WOULD CONSERVE
OIL AND WATER LANDS
President Declares Time Is Past
for GIittering GeneraIitieS;
Action Is Needed
q
CONTINUED from Page si1)

$40 to s1O0 per acre, at $3.50 per. acre and i'm
mediately after entry, for limited compen-
sation, secured transfer Of the land to them
selves pursuant to a prior understanding and
agreement. Some five years ago the senate
passed a bill repeating tho act, but 1t failed
to pass the house of representatives. Since
then the interior department has come to our
relief in this matter. The law fixed the mini
mum price at $3.50 per acre, but did not pro-
h.bit the government from charging more. In
November 1908, the interior department adopt
ed the rule and policy Of appraising land,
subject to entry under the act, and selling
the same at the appraise, value, which is
much higher in most instances than the min
imum price Of the statute.
FRAUDS ARE CHECKED
This new policy, which is still adhered to,
has checked the fraudulent speculation in
these lands and has given the government a
much higher price for the land entered. Over
100000 acres have been so entered Notwith-
standing this valuable administrative relief,
am still of the opinion that the law should
be repealed. to the end that the timber and
Stone may be disposed Of at fairer and more
reasonable prices and methods.
"In 1862 congress passed the homestead law
This law, as you know, makes a gift Of 100
acres to each settler and homebuilder who will
occupy, improve and cultivate his claim for
the period of five years. OF all our public
land laws this has been the most benefcent
and productive of best results but with all
its blessings 1t had one defect. I refer to
the privilege of communication. This is the
privilege of proving up and paying for the
land at s1.25 per acre prior to the five year
period for final entry The vice Of allowing
a homestead entry to be commuted, stated
consists in opening the door to the speculator
who in the space of fourteen months can Sc
cure title to the land scant and tempo
rary improvements and then move away and
hold the land for merely speculative purposes
leaving the surrounding settlers to enhance
the value of his land by their continuing and
permanent improvements"
TOUCHES ON COAL LANDS
Touching on coal lands. Senator Nelson said:
'Tf the policy of selling the land is to be
continued, provision should be made to pro-
tect the people-the consumers-aganst mo-
nopolies and combinations in restraint OF
trade and against unreasonable and exorbitant
prices. Many good men, however, who have
given the subject great considerations believe
in and favor a well guarded system OF leas-
ing instead of sale"
Mr. Nelson spoke Of the recent executive
order Of President Taft withdrawing all coal
lands in Alaska from location, sale and entry.
This withdrawal by President Taft, he said,
was no doubt made in pursuance OF recent
legislation by congress and for the purpose
Of giving congress an opportunity to enact
better and more suitable coal land laws for
Alaska than those now In force, and that
such legislation is urgently needed.
The act OF March 8, 1871 (amended 1s91),
making provision for reclamation OF arid lands
by irrigation. has largely proved a failure be-
cause the Individual settler in many cases
was unable to defray the cost of bringing
water to his homestead. the speaker said He
added:
I'm view of the comprehensive character
Of the general reclamation act Of 1892 which
makes due provision for securing a water
supply and provides for limited homesteads
under a qualified homestead law, the desert
law referred to could well be repealed Tha