The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-12-08

Ihreatened or endangered under
existing conditions"
| Speaking of the Cunningham
claims, the committee finds that II
would be improper for them to pass
upon the merits of these claims and
thus prejudice them while they are
pending. IF they are regular" the
report says, patents should be al
lowed. II they are fraudulent, the
claims should be cancelled. The
claimants are entitled to an i'm
partial Judgment upon their rights
in the premises"
II is said the committee found no
reason to doubt that the commits
sioner of the general land office, with
an appeal to the secretary OF the in
TERROR, would decide these cases
fairly and impartially but because Of
the imputations heaped upon them 1t
is recommended that a law be en-
acted for the transfer of these and
any other cases involving claims to
Alaskan coal lands to an appropriate
court for a hearing and a decision.
Concerning the future of Alaskan
coal lands the report makes a
definite recommendation in favor OF
the leasing system. which also was
favored by President Taft in his
message to congress. The recon-
mendation follows:
"Your committee believes II would
be the height OF unwisdom to per
NIT these great coal fields TO be
monopolized or gathered into the
private ownership of few for specu-
lative purposes. As they increase in
value the increment should inure to
the benefit Of all the people
''To bring about this result and at
the same time put an end to the I'M
reasonable conditions now existing
Your committee recommends that the
government refuse TO sell the lands.
but that retaining their ownership. It
shall grant leases at fair royalties for
lperiods limited, long enough and
covering areas large enough TO
Justify the necessary investments
upon sound business principles and
thus secure the opening and opera
ton of sufficient mines TO meet the
necessities OF Alaskan consumption I:
afford relief from the present out
rageous prices paid by consumers.
land at the same time afford some
lrevenue to the government. We
recommend legislation to that end,
and that pending such legislation,
the existing withdrawal from entry
of the Alaska coal lands be made"
Denounces CLAWS.
As to the conduct OF Mr.. CLAWS IN
the long period In which tho Alaska
coal claim cases were under his con-
troll as special agent OF the land
office the report declares he had
Sufficient time and abundant assist
anee to make the field examination
which he had demanded.
In this connection the committee
says:
"If his demand was In good faith
Claws was greatly remiss in his duty
in not having the examination made
then"
Commenting upon the blanket
Withdrawals OF puiblic lands which
were made by James r. Garfield
when secretary Of the Interior, the
committee says this action was taken
by him after he asoertalned that he
would not be reappointed under
President Taft. II is said these
Withdrawals were made haphazard,
from the mere inspection Of the land
office state maps.
Many of these lands were restored
to the public domain by Secretary
Ballinger and a portion were again
set aside. The re-withdrawals. ac-
cording to the committee. were made
by Secretary Balllnger. after a care
full examination Of the maps. data
and reports in the geographical sur
vey and 1t is held that the re-with-
drawals embraced all the power sites
in the original blanket Withdrawals
made by Mr.. Garfield.