Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-03-29
CONSERVATION
WITHPRESENTUSE
PEOPLE OF WEST OPPOSE POLL
OK THAT PREVENTS DEVEL-
oPAIENT OF RESOURCES.
Seattle Chamber of Commerce Takes
Action.

Action.
SEATTLE, March 29.-ConserYa-
ton with use has become a commonly
familiar term during the recent
months of the controversy, but it
has remained for the Seattle cham
Der of commerce to give it an exact
and comprehensive definition, and to
attach to it plan of action. Judge
Thomas Burke, chairman of the
chambers committee on national af-
fairs and everywhere known as
man of broad vision and firm grasp
of public affairs, submitted last week
a report embodying his views, which
was Endorsed by his associates on the
committee and unanimously adopted
by the chamber.
Judge Burke's plan proposes to
afford incoming settlers every facil-
ity and encouragement to develop
the vast natural resources of the
west, while at the same time abso-
lutely preventing waste and mono
polistic control. Two paragraphs OF
his report summarize his position as
follows:
ANY agency that would seal up
or unnecessarily retard the use of
natures wealth not only would be of
no benefit to the present or to future
h,rk ha ,Nneftfrra
injury to both. Full and free devel-
Opment under wise and effectual reg
ulation against the abuses of monop-
oily is the true policy for this eoun-
try" And again, THE reclamation
of arid lands by our general govern
ment is public service of the first
Importance and deserves the hearty
support of citizens in all parts of the
country"
Judge Burke points out that there
is much danger at this time to the
public interests from hasty, passion
ate and inconsiderate action both
in and out of congress. He brings
forward the original suggestion that
congress, after providing power to
the president to make temporary
Withdrawals of land pending further
congressional action, should author
lie the appointment of commission
of experts to investigate the whole
subject and to report as soon as pos
sible a basis for land legislation
which while protecting the public
against the wasteful use of natural
resources and against monopoly, will
put every acre of good farming land
at the service of the settler and
home builder, not as a tenant of the
government, but as owner in fee OF
his own house" AS regards water
power and coal, Judge Burke recon-
mends legislation which, while care
fully protecting the public against i'm
position and unreasonable charges,
will encourage the discovery. open
ing and working of coal mines, and
the development of water power
a policy, he declares, absolutely es-
sential to the growth and prosperity
of the western communities and In
deed to the prosperity of the whole
country"
Opposition is declared to the pro
posed system OF leasing, which Judge
Burke says would be wasteful ant
would sooner or later result in fay
oritism and corruption in the public
service" He urges that hereafter
in the disposal of public lands con
trolling water power or containing
coal deposits, a power to protect tbs
public against unreasonable prices
be reserved TO the state where thu
and is located, or to the govern
ment when the land Is In a territory
Fayoring the principle OF forest re
eryes. including forest lands neces
sary to the protection of waite
sources, he declares there should b
no withdrawal or dimunition o
lands granted to the state for the sup
port Of public schools, or Of land
naturally adapted to farming.