The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-05
THE GOVERNORS.

Governor Spry or Utah ana uo'eino'
Ammons of Colorado have sounded the
keynote of the meeting which governors
Of western states will hold on April
Z, two days before the National Irri-
cation congress They have declared IN
favor of n united western policy on
the most vital problems,
By holding conference prior to the
irrigation congress they will be able to
submit their views to tho congress and
10 Secretary Lane, who IS expected to
proclaim new governmental policy re-
gardng irrigation and public lands in
western states.
This will be along the lines which
the secretary outlined in his recent re-
port He suggested that the national
and state governments share the
financial burden Of reclamation and
pointed out that the government ought
TO contribute Sl00,000.000 Immediately
toward irrigation work. He probably
will urge, therefore, that the states ap-
propriate an equal sum and that the
money be obtained on long time bonds.
1, is a dazzling proposition that IN
stnntly appeals TO the Imagination,
While the national government has
travelled far from the narrow policies of
Clifford Pinchot, the blight of eastern
ignorance of western conditions still
rests upon the officials at Washington
Tentatively. the administration has de-
clared in favor Of more liberal policy
in opening up the resources Of Alaska
and of the western states. Secretary
Lane favors new laws to permit the de-
vclopment OF coal and oil on the leas-
ing and royalty plan. lie does not ia
vor the sale of coal lands because, rs
he says, the sale must be based on an
experts guess as to how much mineral
the land contains. His leasing system,
however, is not apt TO attract the capi-
tai necessary for the development of
coal, because capitalists will not take
all the risks of establishing great
enterprise if the ownership is TO re-
main in the government and if the gov
ernment is to have the power of chang
ing its charges and e1actions at indeter-
inmate periods,
If Secretary Lane and the admins
tration expect to open up the coal and
OIL and waterpower resources of the
west their terms must be so liberal as
10 make il worth while for private capi-
tai TO take risks and establish big en-
terprises The government has been so
afraid OF monopoly and of wasting re-
sources that il has absolutely locked up
the resources of the west. The present
administration is too much INCLINED TO
deny profit TO investors, and private
capital will not suddenly become phil
authropic even for the sake of develop
ing national resources. Laws relating
TO coal, TO oil, TO waterpower, to irri-
cation. and TO other resources must
make attractive investments possible.
II bureaus at Washington are TO die.
tate the business Of private corpora
tions on petty aud harassing terms few
private corporations will engage in de-
velopment work.
The surest way TO develop resources
is 70 provide for private ownership and
control under proper restrictions. The
government s policy recalls the Bibli.
cal servant who buried his talent in the
ground for fear somebody would get
IL away from him. 1t will be remem.
beFcd that he did not receive much
praise from his lord and master The
government, for more than 100 years
turned over the resources of the country
as rapidly a. possible to the states or
TO private enterprise. The colossal de.
velopmcnt Of the country compensated
for any incidental abuses Indeed. The
public remembers with gratitude now
the government S policy and the won
,lcriul development and has entirely
forgotten the abuses.
No policy that the government car
adopt will altogether eliminate abuses
y leasing and royalty system will moi
prevent them. Petty rules by martinets
IN Washington bureaus will not pre-
vent them. By granting private owner
ship and control the government viii
provide for marvellous progress in ths
vest and can easily devise laws tha,
will prevent monopoly and restraint o,
trade
There Is an especial reason why tn,
federal government should be liberal il
the matter of waterpowcr. The onl,
control over water granted 10 the ma
tional government By the constitution
relates to nayigsblc streams All othel
rights Ia water arc reserved to tn,
states Hitherto the government hal
been able 10 prevent state sppropria
tion Of water for beneficial use.
y NhercVer the government has owned
the land BY refusing 10 grant ease
menis on the national domain the gov