Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-04-21
CONGRESSMAN HAMER'S
LIEU SELECTION BILL
Gives State Right to Select Land in Com.
pact Tracts for School Sections Lost

Congressman Thomas r. Hamer's
lieu selection bill as passed by the
house of representatives, VIII in
terest western people. BY its pro-
visions millions of acres Of school
lands, untold in value, will be re-
stored to the states Of the northwest,
and over 100000 acres to Idaho. The
determined effort Of the member
from Idaho to regain these vast areas
of wealth, OF which his own and 9th
er states have been deprived by rea-
son of their summary inclusion in
forest reserves has born its first
fruit in what is regarded as most de-
cisive recognition of the justice of
his vigorous and persistent eonten-
ton by the lower branch of con-
gress.
The ultimate passage of this bill
viii mean more to Idaho and the
northwest than the success OF any
other measure now before the ma
tional legislature. although 1t per-
haps has not received as widespread
publicity as some which have been
injected into the program Of the
present administration. Millions up
on millions of dollars win accrue to
the states affected. The aggregate
has not been exactly determined, but
it will probably exceed $15O,0O0,-
900. The Golfers OF the public
schools of Idaho alone will be swell
ed by at least $25. 100000, for the
right is granted to designate lands
within forest reserves, and the state
will thereby secure some OF the
richest timbered tracts in the west
ern country. worth in certain in
stances hundreds of dollars per
acre. The enactment of this legisla-
ton by the house is regarded as an
unusual achievement for a man who
is serving his first term.
Chapter one of the story of a
long and strenuous fight by the Idaho
representative is ended. The initial
victory was won when Hamer secur-
ed the promise of Secretary Wilson
of the department of agriculture
that he would not oppose the bill,
although he had previously proven
most potent obstruction to such
legislation. With that formidable
barrier removed, he turned to the
committee on public lands to meet
and overcome the threatening opposi-
ton of fellow members of that body
who from precedent and prejudice
had arrayed themselves against this
legislation, and after a series OF the
most sensational sort OF sessions, in
which he found himself also beset by
untoward influences emanating from
outside of the committee, ne accom-
plished his second victory. and the
bill was fayorably reported to the
house and placed on the union calen-
dar.
The measure in the final form in
which It was presented and passed is
as follows:
Where any state or territory owns
lands lying within the boundaries of
national forest, or where fits right
OF indemnity selection in respect to
school sections within the boundaries
has not been fully exercised. the said
state or territory Is hereby author
lied. subject to the approval of the
secretary Of agriculture. to be given
at his discretion. to exchange such
lands for, or make indemnity selee-
tions OF, other national forest lands
OF like quantity and value, the same
to be selected in reasonably COM
pact bodies. which lands shall there
upon be excluded from the national
forests for the benefit OF the said
state or territory"
The title was amended by the
committee TO read: a bill pro-
yiding for the adjustment Of the
claims of the states and territories
to lands within national forests"
In Endorsement OF the measure,
the committee makes this statement
in it's report: The enabling act OF
many of the states admitting them to
the union. granted sections 1s and
Sc in each township to the state for
school purposes. Since that time