The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-29

Germs the preservation OF forests. the
reclamation of arid lands OF the gov
and the proper treatment and
disposition of our government coal
lands, phosphate lands. oil and gas
lands and OF the lands known az
water power sites at the points on the
streams where the water power must
be converted in order to be useful.
During Mr.. Roosevelt's administration
millions OF acres of and included
within the classes described were with
drawn in the United states proper
and in Alaska. in order to await proper
legislation. Dou arose as o-th
power TO make these with
drawals. and therefore as to their
Legality, should they be contested in
court. The present administration con-
tinued the executive Withdrawals, but
suggested. as a matter of wise precau-
ton, securing from Congress express
power to make them. BY Republican
najorities In both houses a with
drawal bill for this en-
acted, and now over 10000. 900 of acres
have been e-withdrawn of lands in
Guided within the classes described.
Much of the land reserved as coal land
is vaIuable for agriculture, and there
fore Congress adopted an entirely
feasible and useful plan by which the
homestead laws were applied TO the
surface Of the land, while the coal in
the ground Is still reserved as the
property of the government This is
a new departure in our Iand laws. and
is highly TO be commended. In addi-
ton To this, 1t was deemed necessary,
In order that certain reclamation pro-
Jects Of the should be
completed within a reasonable time,
that an issue OF $4,000, 900 bonds
should be authorized with which TO
secure water for the settlers upon
government lands within the promise
of the project. the bonds to be re-
deemed by the water rents for the
service rendered. In this way hun
dreds of settlers who have been pa
tieDtly waiting for the completion of
the projects and suffering great priva-
ton will be rehabiiitated. AT the same
time the law authorizing the band issue
prevents h expenditure of any of the
proceeds until a board OF army en-
gtneers shall report the same as
worthy and feasible. Moreover, addi-
tional provision has been made in the
appropriation laws for money with
which TO carry IN surveys of unsur-
Neyed public lands, a crying need in
certain States n in Alaska. Thus
X Is not too much to say that most
appliances for the prevention of acct
dents ward the proper conservation OF
our in the legislation of the
present Congress. There remains to
be considered and settled the question
OF the method Of disposing of these
ands so that the government may
retain sufficient control to prevent a
monopoly in their use and TO secure
the public against extortien for coal,
oil. gas. phosphate. or water power on
the one hand. and yet may give to
private capital sufficient inducement
TO bring about a normal development
of the wealth contained in these lands
TO aid in the building up OF the coun-
try. Neither the Democrats of the
House nor the Democrats of the SEN
ate as "a body. although their plat
form formally declared In favor OF
conservation, have taken n active
part or can be ounted upon TO assist
materially tire solution Of these COM
plicated questions.
Improve Waterways.
Another subject OF pressing impor-
lance Is that of the Improvement of
U waterways. The present Congress
has enacted a rivers and harbors bill,
appropriating more than SAL, 600. 600
for the carrying out of a number Of
weli-dsfined plans for the permanent
Improvement of rivers and harbors
within a certain period, and in addi-
ton, authorizing contracts to be en-
tered into, subject TO futur. appro-
priations by Congress, aggregating
over Slo. 600. 600. The bin was sub
ject TO criticism In that it still con-
tinued the old pfecemeal system and
appropriated. something for nearly
every project recommended by the
army engineers. 1t Is hoped and be-
lteved that in the next session and
thereafter the engineers will 20 make
their recommendations as 20 indicate
the projects of greater Importance. so
that adequate sums may b. appropri-
ated for their completion within a
reasonably short time and the piece
meal policy of extending The construc-
ton of Improvements of this kind In
definitely for years may be abandoned.
Party Pledges Redeemed.
The Republican platform promised
that it would admit to statehood the
Territories of New Mexico and Ari-
and that promise has been re-
deemed with suitable provisions for
securing good and sane constitutions j.
of the States by requiring their adcp-
ton in advance OF the election of State
officers. n their submission TO Con-
gress for consideration, and possible |
rejection al one OF its sessions.
All his long list OF useful enact
ments was promised in the Rcputsi-
a platform. and has boon put
through by Republican majorities.
Congress has also enacted into law.
in accordance with the promise which
I made as a candidate for the presi-
dency. q bill requiring the pts icatiep
by the congressional committees OF
detailed statements OF the money re-
by them and the money ex- /
pended by them in the political cam
vass Of each congressional candidate
In addition, the present Congress
has appropriated 100000 TO enable
the executive to investigates n make
recommendation as to the methods by
which the cost of running tie govern
may be reduced. I regard this
last as one of the most important
parts Of the administration's policy.
/ am confident that If ,uil opportunity
Is given. and a Republican Congress
is elected to assist. the cutting down
OF the national expenditures by the
adoption Of modern economic Meth
DDS in doing the business OF the CIV
will reach to a point Of saw
ing many millions. How much the
expenses can be curtailed 1t Is inn
10 approximate at this time.
The problem before the adminis,ca-
ton is to get fun value for every
dollar it disbnrses.
The appropriations for the last year
were more than $50, 900. 0C0 less than
the appropriations OF the yeag before.
and In the~&c1ua1 sxscutiQp-pf the