Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-04-11
BIG FIGHT ON BILL WILL BE
OVER GRANTING POWER TO
PRESIDENT.
PROPOSAL TO WITHDRAW
AUTHORITY FROM BALLlNGER
Measure to Come Up in House at an
Early Date-valdation of Past With
drawais Also Point on Which There
j. Much Dis.sreement-Riil May
Not he Passed.
Especial Correspondence.1

Washington, April 11.-Impetus has
been given the movement for conser-
walton legislation by the action of the
house committee on public lands in
voting for favorable report on Rep
rensentative Picketts bill to provide
for Withdrawals of public lands con-
tanning minerals from entry.
The committee was divided on the
question and the bill was ordered re-
ported by majority of two. Chair
man Mondell OF Wyoming, who is not
an enthusiast on the subject of con-
servation, was one OF those opposed to
the bill.
1t is provided by the bill that the
president shall have authority to
withdraw from entry public lands con-
tanning coal. oil. or other minerals or
lands containing forests or water
power sites. Such lands may be with
drawn for the purposes of examination
or classification or whenever the pres
ident deems that the public interest
requires it. Not only does the bill give
the president the authority to make
Withdrawals but it provides that with
drawals made in the past shall be
deemed valid. Thus the effect of the
measure if enacted would be to vail
date past Withdrawals and give the
president unquestioned power to make
future Withdrawals.
Takes Power From Secretary.
Some OF the bills proposed in fact
the bills which represented Secretary
Ballinger's ideas, that the secretary of
the interior should have the power to
make the withdrawals. Representative
Pickett has taken the position the
power should be lodged with the presi-
dent. 1t is matter of dispute whether
the president has that power or has
not. Former Secretary of the Interior
Garfield contends ne has and that was
the view taken by Roosevelt when he
was president. If this measure passes.
however, there will be no question
about it.
1t is expected this bill will come up
in the house at an early date. The
disposition of it there will Indicate
pretty clearly what congress is going
to do this session as to the conserva
ton question. It is expected there
will be a good deal of opposition to
passage of the Pickett bill in the form
in which it stands. Some Of the mem
bers of congress from the Rocky Noun
tain regions have insisted that past
Withdrawals from entry of public land
ought not be legalized for the reason
that this would drive out many per-
sons who had squatted on the land
without reference to whether it had
been lawfully withdrawn. 1t is prob
able that the house will pass this bill
or one about like it, however, tho
amendments may be made.
Tho Sticking Point.
Among the men on the public lands
committee of the ouse who, like Pick
EFT, have insisted on valuation Of past
Withdrawals are Parsons of New York,
and Gronna of North Dakota. republic
cans, but all inclined to instruction
It has been the chief sticking point Of
the bill in the committee.
The next question the house COM
mittee will take UP win be the bill to
provide for the classification of public
lands.
Whether there will be conservation