Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-02-02

Nmy &NenthR heFntu ~ y. Leased Warel
Washing0n, Feb. g.-Prcsdcnt Taft
today sent TO congress his promised
message on Alaska and the pu0lic
domain In general In urging the con-
struction OF Il government railroad,
commission form OF government and
other needed legislation for the far
away territory, President TAFT declared
there was nothing Ia the history OF
the United states which afforded such
Just reason for criticism as the fail
ure of the federal government to eN-
tend the benefit OF its fostering care
TO Alaska
II am not Ia favor OF government
ownership where the same certainty
and efficiency Of service can be had
by private enterprise said the pres
idcnt, but ! think the conditions pre-
scented Ia Alaska are of such 81 char-
acter as 90 warrant tho government
4Or the purpose OF encouraging the
development of that vast and remark
able territory, to build and own a
trunk line railroad, which Il can lease
on terms which may be varied aud
changed to meet the growing prosper
ity and development OF the territory
President Taft said there was little
likelihood that the Morgan Guggen-
heim Interests would open up a rail-
road under the present conditions In
Alaska.
The president would have a com
mission form Of government for
Alaska, one-half Of the commission TO
be elected and the other half appoints
ed BY the president
leasing system was proposed by
the president for government coal
and phoapata lands Ia Alaska. as well
as in the United states.
Tho reclamation laws of the United
Statee should be modified in the opin-
ion OF the president 80 that home
stcgdcr might be granted a patent at
the end of I've years ~ cultivation
and three years cf occupation. Tho
president also would relieve home
stcadcrs from the requirement OF oc-
cupatiOn at a time when the Condi-
ti0n Of the land would make lt bur-
densome and difficult.
Following suggestion ot \ ,sv-
tary of the interior Fisher, President
Taft declared IN hts message that the
control Of &atcrpowor sites should
remain IN the national government
AAAAtNA AAtAi W ANAN'fA wv ~ ~
states. lie would have tho sites dis
posed of by direct lease from tho
government. tha routal 20 be used In
Improvement OF the stream ana for
the benefit OF the local community
where the power sites were located
-le president would give TO the states
the right 20 rcgelatc the rates at which
the converted power Was sold, The
has been one Of the most serious sub
jects discussed by cunservationlsts.
president TAFT believes that the lcas-
ing system ne now suggests is the best
solution of the problem; that Il would
mean honesty uf administration and
the prevention 6f abuses which mon
opOly ~ absolute ownership In pri-
vate persons or companies would
make possible, The message follows.
To the senate and House Of Repre-
scntativeE;
There Is no branch OF the federal
Jurisdiction which calls more imper-
ativeiy for Immediate legislation thar
that which concerns the public do
main. aud especially the part of That
domain which II ir Alaska Tho re-
port OF the secretary Of the interior
which is transmitted herewith, and
The report 20 him ~ the governor Of
Alaska set ont the public need IN
this regard with great force and Ia
satisfactory detail
The progress under the reclamation
act has made clear the defects OF us
limitations. which should bee reme-
died. The rules governing the acqul-
sltion of homeateads, of land that is
not arid OF somi-arid, are not well
adapted 10 the porfecting of title tn
land made arabic hy government
work.
concur with the secretary of the
interior Ia his recommendation thaI
after entry is made upon land being
reclaimed. actual occupation as a
homestead of the same be not rcquif-
ed until two years after entry, but
that cultivation of the same shall De
required, ana that the present provl-
sion under which the land Is To be
paid for in ten annual installments
shall be 30 modified as 90 allow "A
patent 20 issue for the land at the
end OF flye years cultivation ana
three ycars' occupation, with reser-
walton of government lien for the
amount Of the unpaid purchase
money. This leniency 10 the reclamh-
ton homcstoader viii relieve him
from occupation "a time whom the
condition of the land makes 10 most
burdensome unu dirncult, ana al the
end OF five years will furnish him
with a title upon which he can hor-
row money and continue the I'M
provement Of n.s holding.
/ also concur in the recommenda-
tlon OF the secretary Of the interior
that an of our public domain should