Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-12
OIL co,
AFTER RICH LAND?
BIG FIGHT ON IN u. S. SENATE RE-
4 GAROING WITHDRAWAL OF
PUBLIC, TERRITORY.
Especial correspondencel

lSpcCldl SOITeSpONueIlCcJ
Washington, d. c., Dec. ia rival
for the attention of the senate today
is the Myers oil lands leasing bill, with
the nows celebrated "Phelen amend
ment." This amendment valves the
claim of the United States to practi-
cally all of naval oil reserve No. 3, in
California, the value of which to our
navy and government is estimated at
from half billion to two billion dol
lars. These oil lands were withdrawn
from entry by President Taft and con-
gress later confirmed his act by law
which set them aside for the use Of
the navy. Nevertheless claims were
located and the government has for
five years been fighting the cases
through the courts with almost uni
form success. Now comes the Phelan
proposal that relief in the form Of
a waiver Of the rights of the public
be given the entrymen, many OF whom
are alleged to be dummies for Stand
ard Oil and other big concerns, to an
extent which has driven Attorney Cen
eral Gregory, Secretary of the Navy
Daniels and even the reluctant secre-
tary of the interior himself to protest.
So hot a fire has been directed at
this measure by the National Conser-
vation association, by showing that the
loss OF the naval oil reserve means
that the navy must give up the burn
ing Of oil and with it the high speed
of its ships, that the Navy league has
issued a special letter demanding that
the Phelan amendment be killed. The
statement that the navy cannot be
maintained at efficiency If this oil is
given away was made first by Secre.
tary Daniels. The estimate of value
OF the oil at two billions of dollars
comes from an engineering expert for
the navy who testified at hearing
on the matter. At senate hearing an
agent Of the department Of Justice tes-
titled that Standard Oil was the real
defendant interest in seventeen out OF
some twenty-three suits brought by
the government in Connection with this
property
Gasoline has been produced and sold
profitably at nine cents gallon from
a government receivers refinery on
some of these lands The proceeds Of
these sales BY receivers for the gov
ernment of oil impounded during liti-
cation is already $9,000,000. Senator
Phelan in his amendment provides
that the government shall give up all
of this money! Incidentally the pro-
duction of low-priced gasoline will be
stopped.
Representative Ramseyer Of Iowa
introduced the other day the follow
ing pension bills:
s George Hughes, Belknap; William
Crawford, Eldon; James Smith, Lean
der McCants, Anderson York, George
E. York and Byron Battin, Bloomfield: :
William T. Hobbs. Henry Arnold and
James Orr, Ottumwa: Eliza Wilson.
Floris; w. p Britain. Martinsburg;
Stewart M. Castner, Taintor; Charles
r. Miltenberger, Abba; Wesley Dern,
David Galgraith, New Shar-
on; Eli W. Myers, Eldon.
Iowa congressman will almost unan-
imously oppose the bill urged by Pres
ident Wilson compelling delay of
strikes pending official inquiry. While
none will as yet be quoted, since the
bill itself has not been drawn. they
are showing determination to stand
for the constitutional guaranty against
involuntary servitude," and to de-
mand that industrial questions be TAX
en- up in another spirit than that Of as
Stunning that the employees are wrong
until shown to be right.
Labor organizations throughout the
following the lead of the re-
cent convention Of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor, are writing to con.
gressmen. asking that no law provid-
ing compulsion be enacted.