South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-20
WOULD SAVE OIL
FOR j. s. NAVY
SeC'y Daniels Urges Wilson to
Preserve Fields in
California.

WASHINGTON. May 2O.-Sec'y
Daniels appealed TO Pres't Wilson TO
use his Influence 10 hold the navy's
RESERVES in the California oil fields
as a vital step in the campaign for
ADEQUATE national defense.
should the bill favorably report
ed by the senate public lands com
mittee to legalize certain entries on
las.ds. withdrawn by Pres't Taft in
1909. become law, Mr. Wilson was
told. the navy must abandon oil fuel
and return 10 coal, with a conse-
quent loss in steaming radius and
speed TO its ships. Navy designers
have advised the secretary that 1t
would be unsafe to construct OIL
burning battle craft unless an ade-
quate reserve supply of fuel was in
sight.
Mr. Daniels submitted a full sum-
mary of the situation. and the presi-
dent began studying the problem i'm
med.ately. as the bill probably will
be taken up in the senate next week.
A delegation of California oil
operators, headed by former Gov.
Gillett OF that state, called on Sec'y
Daniels Friday 10 talk the situation
over. The conference will be con-
tinued as no progress was made. It
is understood. however. that the oil
men were prepared to negotiate for
a compromise bill
Assured of support.
Sec'y Daniels already has talked
with many senators, pointing out
the effect on the navy if the bill is
passed, and has been assured of
strong support in his opposition TO
the measure both in the senate and
in the house, if the provisions to
which he objects reach the confer
ence stage.
The bill in question recently was
reported from the senate committee
~ Sen. Phelan of California as a
substitute for the mineral land leas-
ing bill passed by the house. Ac-
cording to experts of the navy de-
partment. it would legalize so many
claims within reserve number 2,
initiated since the Taft withdrawal,
that the remainder would be vir-
tually worthless to the navy. In the
other two reserves, No. I in Cali
fornia and No. in Wyoming, the
department estimates there is avail
able only supply sufficient to main
tain the navy for 10 years in peace
times or five years on war basis.
OF Great Value.
Sen. Phelan's report, which ac-
companied the bill. asserted '.Iat
these two reserves would maintain
the navy for 200 years in peace
and 10 years in war" Secy Daniels,
writing TO Chairman Myers of the
public lands committee, took sharp
issue with this statement. and also
questioned other assertions in the
Phelan report.
Even the 15-year supply cannot
I've relied upon if this bill be enact
e1," tine letter declared. because
only the proven part of naval pc
troleum. reserve No. /, the part on
WHICH there have been phenomenal
discoveries. will be disposed of un-
Ter the provisions of this bill"
The 15-year estimate had been
based on the assumption that no
part of reserves Nos. l and 8 would
be affected.
The Phelan report rehearsed the
history OF the oil reserves from the
time of the Taft withdrawal order
NJ TO the formal creation in 1912 OF
the naval petroleum reserves over
parts Of the withdrawn lands. 1t
pointed out thar the legality OF the
Taft order was doubted. although
the supreme court finally upheld il,
and that locaters entered on the re-
serves on the theory that there was
no legal barrier up to the time con-
gress authorized the Withdrawals in
1910.