Bisbee daily review., 1911-09-14
THERE'S ONE THING
 PEOPLE OF THE WEST
 WOULOL LIKE ID KNOW
Policy of the Government with Respect to the Pub
 lie Domain
UNCERTAIN LEGISLATION

DENVER, Colo. Sept 1S-That the time has come when all people of the west should know and understand thoroughly the policy of the federal government with respect to conser- wing the public domain in the western states Is the opinion of the men who are pushing the movement for the public lands convention, which will be held in Denver, September 2S to October inclusive.
 Bills are pending in congress, which in the opinion of many, would be in- imical to the best interests of the people of the western states should they become law. The argument is advanced that this legislation, if ad- opted by congress. would create bureaucracy in Washington that would encroach upon the constitn- tional provision for states rights. and that it would be unfair to the states of the west for the reason that it would exact a toll from public do- main of this section for the benefit of the federal treasury which the old CT states were never forced to pay.
 Absolute Power Bills.
 The bills which have aroused action are three senate bills providing for federal control of lands which may be- come valuable for the development of water power, coal lands, and oil lands.
 The objectionable feature Of these bills as cited by those who are Op- posed to their passage, places in the hands of the secretary of the interior what they term absolute powers"
 For instance, in the coal land bill, section ', says:
 That no permit, license or lease shall issue until the applicant therefor has entered into a bond in such amount as the secretary of the inte- rior may prescribe, etc"
 It is pointed out that all three bills teem with such provisions which read, AS the secretary Of the interior may designate; as the secretary of the in terior may prescribe; under such con ditions as, in his opinion, will safe guard the public interests
 Want 1t Settled.
 The people of the west are facing a condition which is Of more vital i'm portance to their future than any other public question under consid- eration at the present time" said J. Arthur Eddy, chairman Of the execu- tive committee for Colorado, yester- day. The Public Lands Convention was called for the purpose of giving the entire subject an airing so thorough that there can remain no doubt in the minds of most humble citizens in the matter. If the people of the west are in favor of the fed eral control such as the government
 IS practicing and contemplates, the people should so express themselves. If the majority want a more modified federal bureaucratic control, or want 1 conservation under state supervision 1t is also within their province to so state At all events what is desired is a representative gathering of all the ifterests of the whole people of the west at the convention, and there the matter can be threshed out and such publicity given to both sides of the subject that all will be informed. President Taft says, The question of | cCnveTsation is not a partisan one % Names of delegates are being re- | ceived daily at the headquarters in | the Chamber of Commerce building and the indications are that every state will be represented