The sun., 1916-08-16
Mr.. Lanes Oh Lands Policy.

Mr.. Lanes OH Lands Policy.
Secretary LANE, who has been Mt
tackled by Mr.. GIrrORD PINcHoT. for
merry his admirer. for advocating the
Phelan mineral bill, undoubtedly be-
longs to the conservation school that
believes In using ms well rs guarding
our natural resources. In his last re-
port Mr.. LANE once more recon-
mended "a general development bill
providing for a practicable method OF
dispOslng Of our oil. gas, coal. phos'
phate and potash without danger OF
monopoly or abuse" The ~sO-called
mineral bill introduced by Senator
PHELAN Of California. a Democrat,
authorizes exploration for and dis.
position Of coal, phosphate, oil. gas,
potassium or sodium" 1t Is the meas.
ure Mr.. PiNcHor complains Of.
AS to oil and gas the Phelan bill
provides that the Secretary of the
Interior may. under such rules and
regulations as he may prescribe
grant permits to rrospectors on Gov.
eminent (wlthdrawn) lands. who
shall have the right to drill for oil
or gas on territory subsequently
leased to them for terms Of years,
paying to the Government n dollar
for each mere In addition to n royalty
equal TO mot less than One-tenth In
amount or value Of the production
1t may he observed that the cOnser
walton plank In the Republican plat
form calls for "a careful husbandry
Of oil the natural resources OF the
national husbandry which means de-
velOpment without waste, Use without
abuse" This Is also the policy Of the
Democratic party In n general way.
1t Is the alleged purpose Of the Phe-
Ian bill to carry 1t out. Mr.. PINCHor
seems to think there Is "a Niger In
the woodpile.' and he may be right.
Mr.. PrNCHOT, with great reluctance
he says. now charges Secretary LANE
with n~eglecting the public interests
and playing into the hands Of the
enemies Of conservation.
One Of the great questions involved
in the controversy Is wi ether oil on.
orators have my rights In mineral
lands which they had begun to de.
velOp when those lands were with.
drawn Dy the Government. Secre-
tary LANE maintained the affirmative
In his last report, In which he said
II shall not assume to shy what pol.
Icy should he followed as to the naval
reserves. but rs to the other with.
drawn lands I believe Congress
(which Is the n forum wherein re-
lief can be sOught) should so act as
to recognize the equitable rights OF
those operators" The Phelan bill
In seeking to protect their interests
aroused the suspicion Of the champion
of conservation who has lost faith In
Secretary LANE.
Mr.. PINCHOT declares that III this
legislation which Secretary LANE Is
trying to get passed Is enacted the oil
land reserves set aside for the use Of
the navy will be destroyed" That OF
course could not be permitted. On the
floor Of the Senate on July IL Mr.. PHE.
Ian replied to this charge by saying
that 1.-THE only matter In dispute be-
tween the navy and the oil operators
relates to naval reserve No. Q In Cali.
fOrnla, consisting Of 10000 acres, 20.
900 acres OF which, two-thirds, are
patented lands or lands clear listed
for patent" That Is to say. Senator
PHELAN claimed title. "%unassailable
title was his expression. for the
oil operators In twO-thirds Of the
tract and he added that 1.-THE oil is
available Cor the navy just as soOn
ms the navy is ready to pay for it,
The matter Is now In litigation. Mr..
PHELAN estimated that the 10000 OO
acres Of Government oil land would
provide 175,OOO.OOO gallons OF oil n
year. and he was sure that the navy's
oil supply would be safe.
The controversy started by CLIFFORD
PINCHOr awakens memories OF the
bitter fight made upon Secretary BAL.
LINGER during the Taft Administra.
ton by Mr.. PINCHor and his friends,
In so fur as the charges now pre-,
ferred against the Hon. FRANKLIN
LANE affect the question Of naval
preparedness, the people will want
them satisfactorily answered. And the
whole Phelan bill comes under fire
1t must he shown to square with the
demand OF the Republican platform
that conservation means develop
ment without waste, use without
abuse"