The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-04-09
1t Will Meet Determined OPP
position on Floor of
House.
GIVES PRESIDENT
WITHDRAWAL POWER
Classification Of Public Domain
VIII Be Next Question TO
Be Considered.

Impetus has been given the movement
for conservation legislation by the &C
ton Of the House Committee on Public
Lands in voting for favorable report
on REPRESENTATIVE Pfcketts bill 10 pro-
vide for Withdrawals of public lands
containing minerals from entry.
The committee was divided on the
question and the bill was ordered re-
ported by a majority OF two. Chairman
H0udelI Of Wyoming. who is not an en-
tbUsIast on the subject Of conserva-
ton. vas one OF those opposed TO the
bill
tt is p-oviIed by the bill that the
President shall have authority TO with
draw from entry public lands containing
coal. oil, or other minerals or lands
containing forests or WateT-pOWer sites.
Such lands may be Withdrawn for pur-
poses Of examination or classification.
or whenever the President deems the
public interest requires IL
not only does the bill give the Presi-
cent the authority TO make Withdrawals
but II provides that Withdrawals made
IN the past shall be deemed valid Thus
tEe effect IF the measure. IL enacted,
would be 10 validate past Withdrawals,
ara give the President unquestiOned
power to make future Withdrawals
Gives President power
some OF the bills proposed that the
Secretary Of the Interior should have
the power 10 make the Withdrawals.
REPRESENTATIVE Pickett has taken the
position the power should &c lodged IN
the President II is a matter Of dispute
whether the President has that power
Former Secretary Of the Interior Gar
reid contends he has and that was the
view taken by Roosevelt when ne was
President If this measure passes, hovS-
ever, there will De no question about It.
II Is expected this bin viii come I'D in
the House at an early date The disDO-
sItion Of Il there viii indicate pretty
clearly what Congress IS going 70 d
this session as TO the conservation cues
ton. II is expected there vii be a good
deal Of opposition to passage Of the
Pickett bill In the form in which II
stands
some Of the members Of Congress from
the Rocky mountain region have insist
ed that past withdrawals from entry OF
public lands ought not be legallzed fol
she reason that this would drive ou
many. persons who had sQuatted on The
land without reference to whether Il had
been lawfully Withdrawn It is prob
able that the House will pass this OH OF
one about ike IL, however. though
amendments may be made.
Among the men on the Public Lands
Committee or the House who, Ike Pic
Eerr. have insisted on valuation of pas
Withdrawals are Parsons Of New York
and G-onna- OF North Dakota, RepUb
leans, but all are inclined 10 insuTrec
ton Il has been the chief stickinE
point OF the bill in the committee
Land Classification Next
The next question the House commit
tee VIII take Up viii he the bill 70 pro
vide for the classification Of publ
lands.
Whether there viii be conservation
legislation this session Is a question
though the action OF the House com
uittee Is a longer advance toward /
than any yet made this session. Con
cross IS considerably split up over il
The feeling Is growing about tn
capitol that che session is not going 4
last as long as many believe, and TIA
when the railroad bin and appTOpria
t5ons bills are completed and passed
VIII be extremely difficult 70 keep
QUORUM N washington