The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-03
.T0CONSOL|DATE
LAND OFFICES
commissioner Would Make One
Place of Local Receivers
and Registers.
Urges DEVELOPMENT OF
NATIONS COAL LAND AREA
Goyerument Should Have Super
vision in Order to Prevent
Monopoly, He Says.

WASHINGTON. Jan. -.-Developmenl
of the coal fields both in Alaska and the
United States, with due adherence tc
the principles OF conservation is
strongly urged by Commissioner bennett
n tho general land office In his nm
,uaI report TO the secretary of the inte-
rIor made public today. He wants the
coel delivered TO the bins of the ultimate
consumer at the cheapest possible price.
but al the same time wants legislation
which would prevent the fields falling
into the hands Of the monopolies
1T is imperative he says. that new
legislation be passed covering the dispo-
s,Ion OF coal lands in Alaska and in the
United States. The inadeauacy of the
prcsent laws is universally conceded. This
proposition therefore, needs no argu-
mept The progress OF advancement In
the west is being retarded under prescn
conditions by the difficulty in the success
fu opening OF new mines under lesisla =
tlon as II exists today. Competition has
beer checked. The consumer Is having
10 pay, therefore. a greater price than it
would be reasonable 10 expect he would
have 10 pay ii IL were possible 10 open
new mines under legislation which would
encourage the development Of this re-
fouFce.
Legislation. however. which would not
retain in the United States the right OF
supervision over the marketing OF the
product woulG be mistake he con-
i!Dues ITO throw this resource open
80 that the coal deposits would Ultimate
ly pass into the hands OF the monopolies
and trusts would be TO render the condi-
lions worse than they are at present,
Congress. therefore. should carefully
lao of Loo ic11 inn nd
see to 4, that the requisite control is re-
tained in the United States. So that a
combination for the purposes OF un1ustly
advancing prices can be checked through
government supervision.
To Consolidate Jobs.
The abolition OF the positions OF regis.
ter and receiver in the local land offices
and the creation OF one position in llen
0f the two Is recommended. This course.
be says. would result in considerable saw
Ing. as well as better administration. In
jer the present system both officers are
responsible for the work OF the office.
+ The substitution OF q bonded clerk for
the register and receiver is urged which,
with the difference between his proposed
salary and the salary now paid TO re-
ceivers. would amount in saving TO the
government OF about $l50.O00. according
% the report.
The only reference in the report to the
Ballinger- Plnchot investigation is con-
laiued In the paragraph declaring that
the amount of work performed during the
past fiscal year was greater than during
the preceding year.
The total cash receipts from the sales
Of public lands. including fees and com
missions on both original and final en-
tries. for the fiscal year 1910. were
@,31l.53-. me report says. Miscellaneous
receipts were as follows: From sales OF
Indian lands. S2.037.551; reclamation water
right charges. $77o,5s6; depredations on