The San Francisco call., 1910-05-10

tie speedy passage of the act in
question by the senate.
There are other acts, one with
reference 10 oil lands; one with ref
erence TO water power sites; one
with reference TO coal lands. The
one with reference to coal land
provides that the surface of coal
lands shall be subject to settle
ment as agricultural lands under
the homestead and pre-emption
laws, but that the coal beneath
the surface shall still belong to
the government and be subject to
mining by those to whom the govs
eminent may lease il or in other
methods part with title to it.
There is a bin providing for the
classification Of lands useful in pre-
venting fraudulent disposition of
them.
There is a bill providing for the
exploration OF oil lands and fixing
the rights of explorers who discov-
er oil And then there is a bill pro-
wang Tor the granting Of water
power sites to the states, with
view TO their disposition toprivate
owners.
This bill is a most important one
Ii probably needs amendment but
the principle Of the bill may work
out to a satisfactory solution.
The water in the streams is now
under the control and ownership OF
the states The water power sites
water power plants belong to the
United States as part of its public
domain.
WOULD UNITE WATER RIGHTS
Ii would be useful to have the
two united in one sovereignty.
1t is proposed TO do this by con-
Veying the water power sites TO the
states on two conditions.
The first condition requires the
state in its disposition to private
settlers 10 retain such control over
the water power sites that ii may
every 10 years adjust the rates at
which power is to be furnished to
the public by the grantee of the
water power site, and the second
condition is that the water power
site shall not be disposed Of by the
state TO any person having a mo-
nopoly Of the water power in the
neighbOrhOod.
The bin provides upon the failure
Of the state to enforce the condi-
tions imposed against private own
ers the United States may enforce
the conditions against the state
and forfeit all the rights of the
private owner and Of the state and
restore the land TO the United
States. There ought to be a specific
provision providing that the United
States may sue the state for for
teiture and also that the executive
shall have the right TO declare a
forfeiture.
It seems to me in this wise the
United States may retain effective
control over the disposition of the
land and at the same time may
enable the legislature or the eXecu-
tive Of the state, presumably more
familiar with the local conditions,
TO fix the details on the ground in
accordance with the local necessity.
II is quite pOSsib Bile. however these
other conservation bills viii go
over to the next session, but the
one ratifying the existing with
draWalS and granting power to
withdraw in future should certainly
pass.
PLANTS PLANNED
There is also pending a bill
authorizing the issue of $50 600, 600
Of bonds with which to continue
plants already begun by the
reclamation serVice-the bonds to
be redeemed out Of the proceeds of
the sale Of public lands and the
water rent collected from those
who enjoy the benefit of the irri-
cation. This certainly ought to
pass at this session. because the
number Of people depending on the
completion of the reclamation pro-
5ects is sufficiently large to call for
special action in their behalf.
Another act is the so called ''in-
junction act" There are three bills
pending TO carry out the platform.
In dlmerept forms they all provide
that an injunction issued without
notice shall not be of effect for
more than seven days unless with
IN that time actual notice is given
and nearing had. where, of
course, the court viii make such
order as it may be advised.
1t further provides no restrain
ing order or preliminary injunction
shall issue without notice unless
the court upon evidence shall make
q finding either on the minutes of
the court or upon the back OF the
injunction order defining what the
irreparable injury is, which is to be
enJOined, and stated why there was
not time TO issue notice for
hearing with the parties present.
IT is very clear that by these
two provisions the attention of the
court will be called to the neces-
sity for great care in the exercise
Of this very exceptional power to
affect parties to a low suit without
giving them notice. and that the
III advised issuing Of inJunctions
Of this character Will cease.
FAVORS POSTAL BANKS
The Manufa cturers' association is
opposed TO the bill on the alleged
ground that ii weakens the power
Of the court, while the federation
of labor is opposed to it on the
ground that il does not go far
enough With this state of the
case I am reasonably certain the
bill is a just one and ought to be
put through. l am hopeful some
way viii be found to vote through
just the bill promised by the plat
form-nothing more and nothing
less.
The postal savings bank bin is
pending in the house, ii having
passed the senate.
am hopeful. because the re-
publican party is firmly committed
to the introduction of postal saw
inEs repositories, that we shall
secure at this session of congress
safe and sane law which viii
offer small depositors absolute Sc
curity and convenience. and at the
same time improve and not impair
the credit Of the government and
the integrity OF our fiscal system.
The publicity of expenditure bill
was not recommended in the repub-
Hcan platform. but 1 ventured to
say. in my speech Of acceptance,
that I should recommend the pass
age Of such a bill with the full con-
fdence il would meet the approval
Of congress. ] am glad to say the
bill has passed the house.
Finally we come to the bill
amending the interstate commerce
law. The bill is pending in both
houses. It has been amended in
the house and also in the senate,
and with that freedom of touch for
which headliners and correspond
ents are so noted we have been
told with much emphasis that the
administration bill has been emas-
culateo in both houses. ] am. not
as familiar with its conditions in
the house as ! am with IT in the
senate, but ] think possibly the
state Of the bill in the senate will
show what is the fact that fba
BIZ has not been emasculated in