Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-06

United States for grant to the state
Of the adjacent land for water power
site and that this grant from the fed
eraI government TO the state shall con-
tain a condition that the state shall
never part with the title to the water
power site or the water power, but
shall lease it only for term of years
not exceeding fifty. with provisions in
the lease by which the rental and the
rates for which the power is furnished
to the public shall be readjusted at
periods less than the term of the lease,
say every ten years.
The argument is urged against this
disposition of power sites that legis-
lators and state authorities are more
subject to corporate influence and con-
troll than would be the central govern
ment In reply it is claimed that re-
adjustment of the terms of leasehold
every ten years would secure to the
public and the state just and equita-
BILE terms.
In my Judgment either Of the plans
proposed could be made TO work sat
isfactorily, and / submit the whole
matter to congress with the recommen-
dalton that one or the other be prompt
ly adopted.
l earnestly urge upon congress that
at this session general conservation
legislation of the character indicated
be adopted. At its last session this
congress took most useful and proper
steps in the cause of conservation by
allowing the executive through with
drawals to suspend the action of the
existing laws in respect to much of the
public domain. | have not thought
that the danger of dispOsing of coal
lands in the United States under the
present laws in large quantities was so
great as 70 call for their withdra wal.
because under the present provisions
it is reasonably certain that the gov
eminent 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 ty-
ing up of the resources of the country
in the western and less settled portion
and in Alaska which means stagna-
ton and retrogressiOn.
The question OF conservation is not
q partisan one. and l sincerely hope
that even in the short time of the pres
ent session consideration may be given
to those questions which have now
been much discussed and that action
may be taken upon them.
Alaska.
With reference TO the government
of Alaska. 7 have nothing to add TO
the recommendations | made in my
last message on the subject. ! am
convinced that the migratory charac-
ter of the population. its unequal dis
tribution and its smaliness of num-
Der, which the new census shows TO
be about 10000. in relation 10 the enor-
nous expanse of the territory make
it altogether impracticable to give TO
those neople who are in Alaska today
and may not be there q year hence
the power to elect a legislature to gov
ern an immense territory TO which
they have a relation so little perma
ment 1t IS far better for the devel-
Opment of the territory that it be COM
mitted to commission to be appoint
ed by the executive with limited leg
islative powers sufficiently broad to
meet the local needs, than to continue
the present insufficient government,
with few remedial powers. or to make
n popular government where there is
not proper foundation upon which to
rest it.
The suggestion that the appointment
of a commission will lead to the con-
troll of the government by corporate
or selfish and exploiting interests has
not the slightest foundation in fact
Such a government worked well In
the Philippines and would work well
in Alaska, and those who are really
interested in the proper development
Of that territory for the benefit of the
people who live in it and the benefit OF
the people of the United States. who
own it, should support the institution
Of such a government.
! have been asked TO recommend that
the credit of the government be extend
ed TO, aid the construction of railroads
in Alaska. / am not ready now to do
so. A great many millions of dollars
have already been expended I'm the
of at least two railroads,
aud if laws be passed providing for the
proper development of the resources
Of Alaska. especially for the opening
up of the coal lands. believe that the
capital already invested will induce
the investment of more capital, suff1-
,ient to complete the railroads building
and to furnish cheap coal not only to
Alaska, but to the whole Pacific coast.
The passage of n law permitting the
leasing of government coal lands in
Alaska after public competition and
the appointment Of a commission for
the government of the territory with
powers to meet the local
needs will lead to an improvement in
Alaska and the development of her re-
that is likely to surprise the
National Parks.
OUr national marks have become 60