The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-10-28
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
SAYS LEASING SYSTEM
SHOULD BE FOLLOWED.
SPEAKS FOR PRESIDENT
Says Government Might Operate Ger.
tain Properties as Models and Would
Lease the Remainder to Private Can.
'talists Under Suitable Regulation
John Hays Hammond Supports.

Chicago, Oct, e7-Announclpg th,,
lie spoke officially and with the con.
sent Of President Taft. Secretary ~
the Interior Walter L, Fisher. sneak,,u
before the American Mining congress,
oeciared tonight that the coal lands
comprised In the public domain =,
Alaska would be available To the n,h,ic
unuer ,. leasing system. Secretary
'i'ner sad the government might on.
crate certain properties as models ana
"ouio tease the remainder to prlyn,c
capitalists under suitable government,
regulation. The amount of land 10 ha
ieased would be limited, he said ,n
the area that could be mined to moo,
current demands for coal
me poiicy OF the government con-
ee'Hing public lands In the west wns
a SUBJECT OF discussion during the day
.he DEBATE developing u controvers,
between Governor Spry of Utah ana
DR. George Otis Smith. director or ,ha
geological survey. DIR. Smith advaeo,a,
~. leasing system for the opening of
pup''c iahas and Governor Spry op.
posed II on the ground that the gov.
erhment would delay the availabili,,
oi the domain, whereas private enter.
prises might make 1t Immediately nro.
ductive P''
III we wait for the government Il,
iocate the mineral and make land.
READY Tor extracting II under the Ieas.
,ns system proposed future genera
ions VIII be left unprovlded." he saIa
uncle sam is landlord on a large
seaie' said DR.. Smith. He has mil.
mons OF acres of coal lands to dis
pose or, so as to serve the lust needs
or the capitalist and TO protect ,ho
pubic interest believe the best re.
suits can be obtained bv the feder,,
leasing system"
secretary Fishers annoupcemep,
',""l 'ne Teasing system would prevail
In Alaska was dlametrically contrary
10 the pronouncements OF prnyiou.
speakers concerning the Alaskan do.
mann a number of Aaskans and Others
mad spoken during the day, strennouslv
n government leasing svs-
TEN as bad In every way for both land
and people
John Hays Hammond. speaking on
the subject of mining investments. said
that government safeguards were need.
ed by the public
SwindIins in Mining.
There Is no use trying to blink at
the facts. There Is more downripb,
swlndling In mining than In any other
legitimate business" said Mr.. Ham
mona. Especially Is this the case in
boom times. believe that by co opera.
non the INSCRIPTIONS promoter can be
eliminated and the public educated In
mining investments. Drastic legsla.
ton Is required in connection with the
flotation of mining companies.
'If the pure food and drugs act
could be applied to mining so that the
investor would be able to ascertain the
ingredients OF mine. much poisonous
stock would be withdrawn from sale
ana honest enterprise would profit"
a board of seven directors who win
select the Officers of the organization
and choose the next meeting place.
was elected today. These include John
Dern of Salt Lake city
Quoting the United States supreme
court to support his contention, that I'm
Undertaking railroad construction the
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