The daily sentinel., 1914-03-25

homestead idea.
Get the lands out of the hands of
the government and into the posses
sion of actual settlers just as soon as
possible says Ferguson, and he pre-
sents as the most important step in
that direction bill providing for a
6i0-acre grazing homestead.
Kent denies that he is seeking to
discourage the settler, but pleads
for the leasing of the public domain
pending the arrival of the home
builder.
Back of Kent are Pinchot and his
followers and many public men who
are not as extreme as the eN-forester
in their views on conservation. Fer
guson commands the support of those
who have been insisting that the
west should be given an opportunity
to become 4 land of independent
home owners, and not the abiding
place of more or less migratory lease
holders.
Compromise Suggested.
Those who seek a compromise have
presented many unusual propositions
and some of them are worthy OF very
serious consideration. One of these
plans calls for the classification or
the public domain, outside OF the for
est reserves. In class 4 would be
placed the best of Uncle Sans hold
ings to be distributed to settlers
under the Ferguson 640-acre home
stead act. Glass C would include the
rough land which could never be
available for agriculture and this
would be leased by the federal gov
ernment, the proceeds to se used in
constructing reclamation projects in
Z . - II = II.
lands OF doubtful value-not good
enough for class 4 nor bad enough
for class C-and these laws would be
opened to entry under the 640-acre
homestead law for two. three or five
years and after that time would re-
vert to class and become subject
to the leasing laws The work of
classification would be done by the
officials of the interior department.
AS a substitute for the above the
| following has been suggested: Clas-
sify the land as provided In the first
proposition and then change the land
laws so settler could take up
either one section of class A land or
two sections of class p land or four
sections of class C land.
Personally, I believe the latter
| proposition comes nearer meeting
western conditions than any other
plan so far submitted. II would put
every desirable acre of grazing and
agricultural land in the public do
main in the hands OF settlers within
ten years and would add tremendous
| ly to the taxable wealth and indus
( trial prosperity of the trans-Missouri
country. Unfortunately, 1t is diff
cult to make eastern and southern
members of congress appreciate its
economic value. On the other hand,
| believe they could be induced to
accept the first of the compromise
proposals and that is a vast improve
ment over the Kent bill.
The West Divided.
The west is q house divided against
Itself on the conservative problem,
and so long as we can not unite on
definite land policy We must be pre-
pared to endure existing ills or agree
to compromises which involve some
surrender of principle by both sides
to the discussion. / have always
held that | was willing to do what
ever was necessary to protect the
public domain from greed OF the mo-
nopolist. but that ! wanted to see
state and nation extended helping
hand to the man who was seeking In
l
Homestead" The very great major
ity of the men who make up the
present administration take the same
position. but when We attempt to
agree upon a plan to attain our de-
sires We develop marked differences
of opinion.
! am not discouraged by this. how
ever, and | am convinced that the
people of the west will make seri-
Gus mistake If they do not press for
some solution of this land problem
during the present administration. 1t
| is not probable that we Will ever re-
ceive more systematic hearing, and
while we may not get all we want we
will get SO much more than any 9TH
er administration was ever willing to
grant us that We will be justified in
regarding the adjustment as a great
victory.
Panama Tolls Issue.
| And now We are told that the
President has surrendered to Eng
land" on the Panama Canal tolls
question. The men and the newspa-
pers who have raised this cry were
denouncing Wilson a short time ago
because he would not play England's
game in Mexico and either intervene
or recognize Huerta. In both in
stances they voice the views of GER
tain powerful selfish interests.
The Panama Canal when completed
Will have cost the American people
more than FOUR HUNDRED MILL
ION DOLLARS. The yearly cost of
maintenance and operation-exclu-
slve of interest on investment-will
be $25,0O0,000. The estimated rev
enue from tolls is $4,000, 900, which
means that the American people
must make up an annual deficit OF
$4,000. 900.
Under the law as 1t stands all yes
sells passing through the canal
American and foreign. alike-must
pay tolls except American vessels
engaged in the coastwise trade. These
are the petted darlings of navigation.
The statute books are burdened with
laws granting special privileges-to
this class of shipping and the bene-
tt nr. h ~ n