Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-01-21
HOUSE PASSES THE
LAND LEASE BILL
UNDER THIS PLAN MORE THAN
SEVEN HUNDRED MILLION
ACRES THROWN OPEN.
GAO ACRE HOMESTEAD NEXT
Prospect Is That It Will Pass-Several
Western congressman Opposed to
Parts of Lease Plan--Oil and
Coal Get Big Boost.

Washington.-The second of the adj
ministration conservation measures, a
bill under which more than 700,000,000
acres of public lands would be thrown
open for lease by private interests,
passed the house Saturday without a
roll call. Immediately afterward the
64O-acre homestead bill was taken up,
with a prospect that it soon would
pass.
Opposition to the land lease bill was
confined principally to far western
representatives, as in the case of the
water power leasing bill passed last
week. Led by Representative Mon
dell of Wyoming, a group of members
from the western states opposed par
ticuarly in the debate the provision
under which the vast oil resources on
public lands in California and Wyo-
ming would be developed under feder-
al leases. They contended that each
state should be permitted to regulate
development of such resources within
| its borders.
Partial Victory to Claimants.
Representative Raker and Church
of California objected to section Civ
ing relief to California oil promoters
affected by the land Withdrawals un
der the Taft administration as not be
ing liberal enough. In the form pass
ed, however, it was partial victory
for claimants. All who filed on lan6
prior to July 3, 1910, the date of the
congressional withdrawal, would bC
granted preferential leases provided
they gave evidence of having attempt
ed to develop their claims The pres
ence of a well or evidence that they
were working on January 1, 1914
would be accepted as proof
In its report the lands committee
declared that the lands opened, whicl
included approximately 100000, 000,00l
tons of coal and $4,000, 100000 WORT
of phosphates and unknown quantities
of oil, gas and mineral fertilizers
should be developed Immediately. TIL
Alaskan coal field and oil lands in ma
val reserves are not affected by tn
bill.
The measure would lease public mir
eral lands on a royalty basis. Prope
safeguards, its sponsors insist, hav
been established to prevent corpora
lions from acquiring any vast quaint
ties.
Features of Measure.
These are the salient features
Coal-No one may acquire more tina
1850 acres before development. Raj
roads may produce coal only for thei
! own use, for which an annual rents
Y and royalty of not less than cents
+ ton shall be paid. Free coal is pr,
|, vided for domestic use of Homestead
e ers. Municipalities may obtain fC
0 their own use 100 acres withol
charge.
Oil and gas-Tracts to run from II
to $40 acres. The government woul
issue a 20-year lease, with a 10-yes
a renewal clause. Annual rental of M
less than 81 an acre and royalty (
l. not less than one-tenth of the amour
S of the product would be paid to IL
government
l. Phosphates and fertilizer minera
o are covered in a similar way.
Control of the leases would rest wit
the secretary of the interior and IL
= proceeds would be equally divided b
tween the federal government al
states in which the lands lie. FEEDER
/, moneys would be used for reclaim
ton purposes.