Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-06
The statistics are corrected to Novembe
18th last.
Specific Recommendation.

18th last.
Specific Recommendation
For the reasons stated in the conser-
| walton address, recommend:
| First. that the limitation now imposed
upon the executive which forbids his re-
serving more forest lands in Oregon,
Washington. Idaho. Montana, Colorado
and Wyoming, be repealed.
Second, that the coal deposits OF the
government be leased after advertise
ment inviting competitive bids, for terms
| not exceeding fifty years.. with mini.
| mum rental and royalties upon the coal
mined, to be readjusted every ten or
twelve years, and with conditions as TO
maintenance which will secure proper
mining and as to assignment which VIII
prevent combinations to monopolze con-
troll of the coal in any one district or
market. / do not think that coal meas,
ures under 900 acres of surface Wouio
be too large an amount to lease 10 any
one lessee.
The Secretary of the Interior tnlnks
there are difficulties in the way OF ieas-
ing public coal lands, which ob)ectlons
he has set forth in his report. the 1orce
of which / freely concede. l entirely ap-
proved his stating at length in his report
the objections in order that the Whoie
subject may be presented to Congress-
but after a full consideration l favor
leasing system and recommend IL
Third. that the law should provide the
same separation in respect to government
phosphate lands of surface and mineral
rights that now obtains In coal ianus' dnu
with power to lease such lands upon Terms
and limitations similar to those ABOVE
recommended for coal leases, WITH an
added condition enabling the government
to regulate. and if need be 10 pronlDll,
the export to foreign countries oi 'lie
product. ,, ,,o,,- i.
nrospector for oil or gas to have the right
10 prospect for two years over a cel II
tract of government land, the right 10 De
evidenced by a license for which ne sllaii
nav small sum; and that upon oiscoN
cry q lease may be granted upon leInis
securing a minimum rental and propei
royalties to the government, and also the
conduct of the Oil or gas wen In accolu
with the best method for outstanding the
supply of oil in the district. me periou
of the leases should not be as long as
those of coal. but they should contain
similar provisions as to assignment u
prevent monopolistic comninauons'
Water-Power Sites.
Fifth, that water-power sites be o'rect-
" leased by the federal government, att
err advertisement and bidding, Tor not
exceeding fifty years upon proper rentdi
and with a condition fixing rates charged
both rental and rates to be read)usted
eouitably every ten years by arbitrator
or otherwise, with suitable prov slons
against assignment to prevent mcnopo-
listic combinations. Or, that the law
shall provide that upon application mace
by the authorities of the state where the
water-power site is situated l. may De
natented to the state on condition that
the state shall dispose Of it under terms
like those just described. and shall en-
force these terms, or upon 1allure 10
comply with the condition the water
power site and all the plant and improve
ment on the site shall be forfeited ana
revert to the United States. the President
being given the power to declare the Tor
feiture and to direct legal proceedings
for its enforcement Either or tnese
methods would, think, accomplish the
proper public purpose in respect TO water,
power sites, but one or the other should
be promptly adopted.
General Legislation Urged.
earnestly urge upon Congress that at
this session general conservation leg1sia-
ton of the character indicated be adopted
most useful and proper steps in the cause
of conservation by allowing the execu-
tive. through Withdrawals, to suspend
the action Of the existing laws In re-
Spect to much OF the PUBIC DOMAIN l
have not thought that the danger Of dis
posing Of coal lands in the United States
under the present laws in large quantities
was so great as to call for their with
drawal, because under the present pro-
visions it is reasonably certain that the
government will receive the real value of
the land But, in respect to Oil lands.
or phosphate lands. and Of gas lands IN
the United States. and in respect to coal
lands in Alaska, have exercised the
full power Of withdrawal with the hope
that the action Of Congress would follow
promptly and prevent that tying up of
thesresources Of the country in the west
ern and less settled portion and in
Alaska, which means stagnation and re-
PROGRESSION.
The question Of conservation is not a
partisan one, and I sincerely hope that
even In the short time Of the present
session consideration may be given to
those questions which have now been
much discussed. and that action may be
taken upon them.