The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-10-16
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED By
WtTtR POWER (ONftRtN(t


Whereas, The new states admitted
into the Union are of necessity upon
an equal footing in all respects what
ever with the original states; and
Whereas, Each state has full iuris-
dietion over all lands within its Dor
Gers, including the beds of streams and
other waters; and
Whereas, The ownership by the fed
cral government of the technical title
- vacant public land within a state
does not confer upon the federal gov
ernment any greater or other govern
mental powers than it possesses within
the original states; and
Whereas, The long-established and
sound policy of the United States with
respect to the disposition of its unap-
pfopriated public lands is opposed to
the making of direct revenue there
fs0m, beyond the expense incident to
tie surveying, classification and dispos-
ing of such lands, but, on the contrarvA
that said policy is intended to eneour-
age and promote the settlement and
development thereof; and that any act
at Congress, or any administrative in
depreciation thereof, which is not in
harmony with this policy, does an in
Justice to the new states by placing
them on an unequal footing with the
original states, and by discouraging
and preventing the settlement Of such
new states and the development Of
their resources: and
Whereas, The vacant land belonging
to the federal government constitutes
two-thrds Of the area of the states
represented I'm this conference, and
amounts to more than twice the area
CT the thirteen original states; and
Whereas, The vacant lands belonging
70 the federal government are under
the law exempt from taxation, while
the burden of maintaining local gov
etnment over their entire area rests
Upon the state; and
whereas, The maintenance inviOlate
Of the constitutional equality Of the
STATES Of the Union is essential TO that
balance of power on which the perfee-
ton and endurance of eur political
fabric depend, and TO the harmonious
operation Of the scheme upon which the
republic was organized now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That we are unalterably
opposed to any legislation which is in
conflict with the fundamental prinCi-
Piles above declared;
Resolved, That the states have the
constitutional right and power to con-
troll and regulate the appropriation and
use of the waters within their bounda-
ries for all beneficial purposes except
navigation, and also the right and
power to control and regulate the rates
and services of their public utilities;
Resolved, That we are opposed tOI
GLy policy that looks toward imposing
the system of leasing generally upon
the public domain for the reason that
such system is contrary TO the spirit of
cur free institutions, and would retard
the development Of the resources of
the states in which there is still any
public land;
Resolved, That in view of what we
believe 10 be administrative miseon-
struetion of existing legislation, we
are in favor of a deelaratory act byI
Congress recognizing and acknowledge
ing that the proprietary interest Of the
United States in the vacant land with
in the states is subject to the iurisdic-
ton and eminent domain Of these
states for all uses which are declared
ly the laws of those states to be pub
lie uses and which are so essential TO
the development, well-being and pros
perity of those states;
Resolved That the purposes of en-
oouraging the development and utiliza-
tion of the natural resources of the
country by private enterprise which
actuated Congress in the enactment of
the right-of way acts of July 26, 1866,
and March 3. 1891, and in the enact
ment of the acts of March 3, 1877, and
June 4, 1897, making all non-navigable
waters on public lands, including for
est reservations, free for appropriation
tor beneficial uses, should actuate Con-
gress today in the enactment of any
further legislation upon those subjects;
Resolved, That any legislation byl
Congress, the purpose or effect Of
which is to substitute arbitrary or dis
eretionary authority of executive Off
oials for the fixed rules of law govern
ihs the administration, sale, or other
disposition of public lands and reserva-
tion and rights-of-way over the same
VIII be unwise and inconsistent with
the spirit of our Constitution;
Resolved, Tht we are opposed 10 own
eiship or control either direct or indi-
rect by the United States government
"A iutroetata p4rhlia ufilifins