New-York tribune., 1910-12-07


hensixe resume Of the statistics and facts
gathered. with some difficulty. in that ad-
dress and to avoid their repetition in the
body Of this message. l venture TO make
the address an accompanying appendix.
The statistics are corrected 10 November 15
last
Specific Recommendations.
For the reasons stated IN the oohssrNa-
ton address. l recommend
FYrs+-That the limitation now imposed
uron the Executive which forpids MS re-
serving more forest lands in Oregon, wash
irEton. Idaho Montana, Colorado ana Nyo-
ming be repealed
Seeond-That the coal deposits of the gov
erument be leased, after advertisements III
vitinr competitive bids. for terms hot eA-
ceedirC fifty years, with a minimum rental
and ROYALTIES upon the coal nlineo, 10 os ie
adjusted every ten or twelve ?enl0' Gnu
with conditions as TO maintenance "iiiS'i
u-;l secure proper mining and as to as
signment which will prevent cotnolna'ioiis
getting I1aonopolisic control OF the coai IA
any one district or market 90 not 'ii'iin
+ra+ coal measures under 800 acres OF
surface would be too large an an1ouii' -
lease TO any one lessee. The Secretary OF
the Interior thinks there are dlIhcui'leS IA
,ha uav of leasing public coal lands, wh1ch
objections he has set forth IN DIS Fepoi =
TIE force of which I freely coneede- L
entirely approved his stating at ienstn III
his report the objections IN order that tne
whole subject may be presented 10
gress. but after q full consideration l l@'oi
d leasing system and recommend II
-l7ird-That the law should provide the
n
rhosnhate lands Of surface and mineral
-f,t,,s that now obtains in coal lands, and
that power 10 lease such lands Upon terms
I'D l;,,,5+a+ions similar 10 those above rec
commended for coal leases. with an au"e"
condition enabling the government to resu-
lata and. ir need be, 10 prohibit the export
70 foreign countries of the product
tDorr-,-That the law should allow a pros
nec+or for oil or gas TO have the Tlsht 10
--oenert for two years over q certain tldCI
oe government land. the right TO ne eN'-
denced bv a license. for which he shah pay
= small sum: and that, upon discovery,
lease NAV be granted upon terms securing
minimum rental and proper royaiIes 10
the government, and also the conduct VI
tho =; or gas we'll in accord with the pest
methods for outstanding the supply OF GA
:, +l,a district. The period Of the leases
should not be as long as those OF coal Out
- st,o,,,5 contain similar provisions as
- assignment 20 prevent nonopolistlc COM
binations- ..,-
T-54+h-Ths+ water power sites ne ohecdY
Leased by the federal government, after ao-
,-ertiser,left and bidding, for not eAcee'-iH7
fff+r years. upon a proper rental anu W.,
= condition fixing rates charged 10 li1e puD,
1ic ror units Of electric power, both Fen1N
and rates to be readjusted equitan'y eve
ten years t,v arbitration or otner"l7e' N''I
sni+sF,le provisions against assignment
r,,a--er7t nlonopclistic combinations VI t''''
the law shall provide that upo" opp''Nt
- ,,,.aa ~ The authorities Of the state
where the water power SITE Is s''"e' -,
,,,- he na+ented to the state, on coholO"ii
! that The state shall dispose oL u -,
,ern7z like those just described. ana sha'i
-. .5,,,sa terms. or upon failure 10
- Ill, the co-dftfon the water power
/ It, and all the plant ard Improvement Oh
- si.A shall be forfeited and revert -
- 7--,5-ed states. the President being siVeIi
-, ,,o,-er +o declare the forfeiture ana u
- ferai proceedings for its enforce-
- r-i+i,or Of these methods Woul'' J
.,,,,i- accomplish the proper punhe P"'
,,ose in -esnect 10 water power s'Ies' o.''
- - tic other should be promptly
It
adopted. 49,. II
7 earnestly urge upon Congress
+,,is session general conservation lesi
80 tbo character indicated be aoopI-o' a.
/ * last session this Congress took mos @ "7e
81 I'D rroper steps in the cause OF con
/ -.---s-5o7, bv allowing the fNecu'iE7 =
/ ,-,-,,,7,-5, Withdrawals, 10 suspend '7s a.
ion of the existing laws in respect 10 l'iu, u
/ - he D,1blic domain. l have not thousi I
no. -be danger Of disposing OF coai laio9
I :, ,ha United States under the pfesei'I
. i..,,,e - large quantities was so sreaI d 40
cau for their withdrawal, because ui'oei
he nresent provisions il is reasonably Ger
! tain that the government Will receive Iie
/ ea1 ,-sl,,a of the land. But. in respect 10
/ Ill lands o. phosphate lands, and or gas
! 1.,5z in me United States. and IN respect
/ - coal lands in Alaska l have eHerc'sf4u
rbe r7ill rowar Of withdrawal With the nope
! -bat the action o. Congress would loho"
! r-or71,-1v and prevent that tying up OF the
/ resources of the country in the western
and less settled, portion and III ALASKA
which means stagnation and retrogressloh'
The question Of conservation IS hoI
/ ra--isaD one. and 7 sincerely hope thaL
/ a,-or in the short time Of the present ses-
/ sion consideration may he given 10 those
/ Questions which have now been much DIS
/ c,,ssed. and that action may be taken upon
J