Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-07-11
NEW SCHEME OF ECONOMY MAY
BE UNDERTAKEN BY SEC.
RETARY LANE.
MUCH WASTE IN NATURAL
GAS AND OIL FIELDS
System Of Conservation Declared to
Pc Discreditable to Our National In
teIligence-sharp Composition One
Cause OF Waste Which Secretary and
Senator Owen Seek to Check.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Washington, Judy 11-Secretary OF
the Interior Lane is advocating an
amendment 10 the sundry civil appro.
priation bill calling for an approprla-
ton Of $4,000 in order to save in the
neighborhood of sl50.00O,000. This ex-
traordinary and almost unbelievable
economy is planned to effect in the pc
troleum and natural gas industries of
the country, the preventabie loss in
which during the past ten years is cal
culated as exceeding 100000, 900.
Secretary Lanes idea is TO nave the
bureau of mines so equipped as to be
able to study the subject OF practical
and immediate conservation of these
natural resources. The amendment en-
bodyins the al preparation was father
ed by Senator owen, of Oklahoma.
Government experts estimate that
the waste of natural gas, believed to
be easily preventable, now exceeds
S50,000,000 per annum. The direct and
preventable surface loss of petroleum.
while smaller aggregates yearly many
millions OF dollars. And to these the
losses which result from the inefficient
or improper use OF q large part of our
petroleum and natural gas" says a
memorandum prepared by the director
of the bureau of mines. and we have
the national losses in the industry in
excess Of s100.000,000 yearly. these
losses taking place under bad econ
omic conditions which are discredit
to our national intelligence. There is
certainly need that this large yearly,
permanent. unnecessary loss in our ma
tjonal wealth be discontinued"
Questions to Be Investigated.
What the bureau of mines will in
vestigate if the pending amendment to
the sundry civil bill Is adopted is,
first. the relative composition and 9TH
er qualities of the different types of
crude petroleum now being produced;
secondly, how mucn petroleum is pro-
duced the relative values of the diff
ferent varieties. and their adaptability
for refining purposes; the qualities and
ducts: and lastly. the existing facili-
ties for transporting, storing and REIN
ing oils.
Similar studies would be made for
natural gas. During the past year.
with the expenditure of less than s10.-
600. the bureau Of mines has stopped
and prevented a waste of natural gas
valued at more than $10,000.000.
The sharp competition which has
existed in the natural gas and petrol
cum fields is one basic cause for the
extraordinary waste which the sundry
civil bill seeks to check. Under the
system or lack of system. under which
these natural resources have been de-
veloped 1t has ben impossible for
cooperation to prevail and competition
has been the rule rather than the ex-
ception to such an extent that the men
who have assumed the risks and who
have borne the pioneering burdens in
developing the industry have secured
but poor returns.
Breaking Down Expatriation Act.
Altho the house steadfastIy refuses
to do anything in the way OF securing
the franchise for the women OF the
country, nevertheless it has shown
slight degree of sympathy with anoth-
er political disability of women. Yes
terday. with very little debate and
practically no objection, the house
passed bill which is taken here to
signalize the breaking down Of the So
called repatriation act" which says
than any American woman who mar
ries foreigner shall take the nation
ality OF her husband This act has
been warmly criticized by many suf-
fragists because It places woman on
different footing from men.
The house Yesterday passed bill
haf ,t,In hov
made entry upon public lands under
the homestead laws shall be allowed
to perfect their claims even tho. be-
fore the claim is finally allowed. they
marry foreigners. The effect Of the
! repatriation act" has been to make
American born women. citizens of the
United States who have taken home
steads and married foreigners before
making their final proof forfeit their
| homesteads because of these matri-
monial alliances, and this notwith-
standing that in many cases the for
eigners join their wives. live with
them upon the calm. and become per-
manent citizens Of the United States.
1t was claimed during the debate
that the purpose of the act of 1907.
which the bill passed yesterday seeks
American 1eiresses who married titled
foreigners and who, as Representative
Kinkaid of Nebraska put II, would
swap their wealth for the foreign it
tie. and move with the foreigner to
his native country, to his European
home" The statute of 1907, accord
! ing to this same authority was not in
tended to apply to females possessed
OF moderate means, or no means. yet
| with independence, ambition. and cour-
age enough to go thru the ordeal Of
living up to the requirements of the
homestead laws for five years, the
! minimum time required when the ex-
! patriation act was passed in 1907
/ Whether the democrats will list the
/ passage OF this bill among their
achievements" and go forth bidding
for votes as a result Of it. has not
been announced The chances are,
however. that they will keep clear of
the question Of women and her politi-
cal independence until the cows come
/ home.