The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-09-20
THE COMMITTEES ANSWER.

The Mines Committee of the Com
| mercial Club in this city re-
plies most effectively to Apostle
Smoot's attempted defense Of his bill
which Is designed to give further assur-
ance of title to lands granted to the
several States in aid Of public schools.
As we stated at the time Smoot g re-
| sponse to the Mines Committees OBJ
| jections rs first stated, is evasive; not
only missing the point, but apparently
doing so by design, 1t is not, and
never has been, the idea of the govern
ment TO make grants OF mineral lands
for any purpose whatever The govern
ment undertakes TO hold mineral lands
for the appropriation of those who will
work them under the laws and regula-
Federal administration. The rights of
prospectors and miners on the public
domain have always been carefully
guarded. and it has been the policy at
all times TO foster the discovery and
opening Of mines. 1t is true that GER
tain officials of the government have
often put annoying obstacles in the
way. and have made difficulties for
prospectors not contemplated in the
law; still. the law remains the friend Of
The government reserves Che mineral
lands. and does not intend to convey
them TO the States. to railroad compa-
MES. or to any other authority or con-
troll whatever.
The difficulty with the Smoot bill is
that il undertakes TO ignore the laws
and practices that have always pre-
vailed. 1t would make reservation in
favor OF the State, without regard for
any rights or claims of prospectors or
mining locators, save only as claims
could be affirmatively established. So
far from protecting these claims and
locations, it would override them. uD-
less the claimant should hear about the
threat 10 his property, and should come
forward making affirmative proof in
his own behalf But that is exactly
what the government does not want to
wish to have the prospector interfered
with and put upon this affirmative
proof, since very often prospector
might not be able TO stand the expense,
and, in large numbers of cases, prob
ably they would not know that their
claims had been attacked until il was
too late to defend.
Al.
Mines committee Of the Commercial Club
occupies an impregnable position. The
answer which this committee makes to
the Smoot letter is conclusive. We
printed that reply in The Tribune yes
terday morning. II not only covers
the general ground. but goes into de.
tails and specifications in masterly
manner It shows that the proposed
legislation is unprecedented in this
country; that it would overturn all Of
the theories that the government has
heretofore adhered TO in respect to it's
mineral lands. 1t shows that the min
ing industry would be headed off in all
OF the lands so transferred, without
hope Of the prospector or miner enjoy
ing on these lands the right which be
now has under the law relating TO pros
pecting and locating mining claims.
We are glad TO see that the Mines
Committee has taken 80 firm n position
in this whole matter, and that il an
swers so fully and eonvincingly the
evasive and shifty points made by
Smoot in his attempted dcfcusc Of his
change the whole attitude of the gov.