The Washington times., 1910-09-05
THOUSANDS CHEER
TAFT IN ST. PAUL
President Talks COnServa-
ton, Urging Practical
Work.
Continued from First Page

resources Of the country, but also gave
some advice as to the duty of the sew
eral States IN dealing with the problem
which come within their jurisdiction
The President was among a host O.
nIea who are his enemies in principle az
well as among men who are in acco-l
with his Administration IN the matter o.
conservation.
he discussed his subject in great de-
tail and the only portion of his speech
which might be construed as a criticism
OF the Pinchot-Gar1eId faction in the
convention was his declaration that the
time had come for q halt in general
rhapSOdies over conservation and that
those VINO Urge conservation should pro-
pose specific methods and legal provis-
ions and regulations 10 remedy actual
adverse conditions
Praises Roosevelt.
Early in his speech the President rcoz
occasion TO praise Theodore Ro0seve1.
for the part he took during the las
two years Of his Administration IN f5s-
terinS the cause Of conservation He as
serted that he had inherited this Roos5-
veltian policy and rejoiced in his herit-
age
Conservation, declared the Presi-
dent, Is not question Of politics OF OF
factions, or Of persons 4 satisfactOrE
conclusion can only be reached promptly
II We would avoid aCrImOny, impUJa-
tons Of bad faith. and political contr--
versy-"
In discussing the limitations Of the
FEDERAL Government and the course
which should be pursued by the States
President Taft asserted that in thesL
days there Is disposition TO look toe
much 10 the Federal Government FOR
everything The only safe course 70
Us 10. pursue is 20 hold fast TO the iimi-
Jati0ns OF the Constitution and TO regard
as .=aCred the rights o. the States 4
VeT-- important part OF conservation
Iaust always fan upon the State Lesis-
latUres-
Alaska Coal Situation
The President dwelt upon the coal
land situatio at great length, paying
particular attention 10 Alaska
1T ought 10 be distinctly understood -
said the President. that no private
claims for Alaska coal lands have as
Yet ben allowed OF perfected. and also
that --Gteve- the result OF pending
claims the existing coal land laws OF
Alaska are most unsatisfactory and
should be radically amended
The President urged that the coal
lands owned by the Government should
De leased, instead Of sold outright
IF the Government leases the coal
iands as any landlord would he said,
ard imposes conditions in its leases
ike those which are now imposed BY
the owners In fee Of coal mines in the
VARIOUS cosI regions IN the East, then II
would retain over the disposition OF the
coal deposits a choice as TO the assignee
OF the lease. a power OF TeSunfng pos
session at the end Of the term Of The
lease which might easily De framed to
enable IL 20 exercise a limited but effec-
tive control in the disposition and sale
Of the coal to the public"
The Cunningham Claims.
Referring 10 the Cunningham claims
President Taft said
There are LhiTLy-three claims for ISL
acres each. known as the Cunningham
claims which are claimed to be valid
OF the ground that they were made BY
an attorney for Jhirty-LhTee different
and bona nae claimants who as alleged
paid their money and took sIhe proper
steps 10 locate their entries and protect
them The representative Of the Gov
eminent in the hearings before the Land
Once nave attacked the validity OF
these Cunningham claims on the Erouud
that prior TO their location there was an
underSta ndlnE between the claimants 10
pool their claims after they nad been
perfected ana unite tlem IN one com
pany- The trend Of decision seems TO
show that such an agreement would in
validate the claims. although under the
-
S0lda-.ou Of such claims was permitted
after location and entry, IN tracts of
1850 acres.
1T would be, OF course, improper fo-
me 10 intimate what the result OF the
Issue as 10 the Cunningham and other
Alaska claims IS likely to be, but il
ought TO be distinctly understood that
no private claims for Alaska coal lands
have as yet been allowed OF perfected
and also that whatever the result as 20
pending claims, the existing COal-Iand
laws OF Alaska are most unsatisfactory
and should be radically amended To
begin with. the purchase price Of the
land Is q fiat rate of SO per acre, al
though, as we have seen. the estimate OF
the agent OF the Geological Survey
would carry Up the maximum Of value
70 500 an acre
Coal Lands Should Open
In my judgment IL Is essential IN
The proper development of Alaska that
these coal lands should be opened, ana
that the Pacific slope should be given
the benefit OF the comparatively cheap
coal Of fine quality which can be fur
nished at a reasonable price from these
fields but the public. through the Gov
eminent, ought certainly to retain wise
control and interest IN these coal de-
pCSits. and I think Il may do so safely
If Congress VIII authorize the granting
OF leases, as already suggested for
Government coal lands in the United
STATES with provisions fOT1iddTDE the