The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-10-26
COAL LEASING BILL
IMPORTANT Law
Policy Has Been Advocated by Pro-
gressives of All Parties for
Half Generation.
PINCHOT URGES ITS PASSAGE
Alaskan Mines Must Be Operated
With Highest Regard for Safety of
Miners-Waste Prevented.
(By Congressman C. H. Tavenner)

(By Congressman C.. H. Tavenner)
Washington, Oct. $3.50 quietly
that the public has scarcely realized
the Importance of it, President Will
sons administration and the Demo-
cratic congress has taken another
great forward step in carrying into
law the policies which have been adj
vocated by progressives of all parties
for half a generation.
The Alaska coal leasing bill is the
first great legislative triumph for the
conservation movement. 1t has pass
ed congress and it sets precedent
which will probably forever preclude
in the future the looting of the pub
lie domain by private interests
Prevent Monopoly.
The bill answers the charge of an
ti-conservationists that conservation
locks up the public resources. Alas
ka's resources are to be given to the
public, but under such conditions as
to prevent monopoly or extortion
from the people.
For years the conservation move
ment has been unable to answer by
concrete example that conservation
does not propose to hold the public
natural resources out of use. For
years it was impossible to put any
genuine conservation measure
through congress. On the contrary,
it took all of the efforts of the con-
servationists to preventing the loot
ing Of the public domain.
Long Waited For.
But with the present enlightened
administration and congress the con-
servationists found the opportunity
which they have awaited for so long.
The Alaska mining bill provides
for the leasing Of coal lands in par
GELS up to 1850 acres in a single
lease on an adequate royalty basis,
the United States government to re-
ceive the royalties. Every pound of
coal mined under the provisions Of
this bill will bring revenue to the
treasury and help to reduce taxa
ton. There are safeguards against
monopoly, assignment of leases to
monopOlists, fraud the negotiating
Of leases, or speculation in leases.
Every town and village in the min
ing region is to have ten acres of
coal land for free domestic supply
Of coal. At any time the govern
ment may go into coal mining, and
the bill authorizes the president to
reserve one-half of the coal lands of
Alaska for government mining
Alaskan mines must be operated with
the highest regard for the lives and
safety of the miners, and the secre-
tary of the interior is given full au-
thority to prescribe the mechanical
rules of mining. He is also en-
powered to prevent the waste of the
coal in the mining.
Congratulate People.
The bill embodies every feature
urged by conservationists for ten
years, and it contains no provisions
which are criticised by conservation
tote of %lo
who has long been an ardent conser-
vAtionist, on the day the conference
report on the bill was adopted by
congress issued public statement
congratulating the people of the
United States on having a congress in
which such an enlightened measure
could pass.
The position of the Pinchot conser-
vationists as stated by H. A. Slattery,
secretary of the National Conserva-
ton association. He said:
1.-The bill adopted was substantial
ly the bill that passed the house.
This was the Ferris bill, and the
Conservation association has not only
endorsed this BILL. but in statements
by Mr.. Pinchot has urged it's pas
sage. The bill conforms to the
principles advocated by the Conser-
walton association for the last five
years and introduced first five years
ago."