Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-01-16
SENATORS FROM
WEST WILL FIGHT
PENDING BILLS
Strong Opposition Develops
to the Ferris Water Power
Bill and the Land Leasing
Measure.

Addison T. Smith, is in receipt OF
copies of number of measures that
are pending in congress, that are OF
large interest to mining men and peo-
Pile of the state generally, and which
will be the subject for consideration
by the members of the association NJ
their third annual meeting, which mas
been postponed until Jan. 20, ana
which will be held at the Commercial
club.
Two of the principal measures that
are now up for consideration by con
gress, in which westerners are inter-
ested, are the Ferris bill for water
power development and use OF puphc
lands, and the Ferris bill for the eX-
ploration for and disposition of COAL
phosphate. OIL gas. potassium or soul
um The water power bill has passed
the house of representatives and VIII
be bitterly opposed by the senators
from the western states.
The leasing bill was passed yester-
day by the lower house, in spite OF OPP
position on the part of the western
members of that body.
Argument on Behalf of Bill.
The argument made by Mr. Ferris in
support of his water power bill Is us
follows:
THE general PURPOSE VI AuV biii 10 - L
enact LEGISLATION that will bring about /
development. legislation that Will be
in the public interest and that will
hold the fee title to water power sites |
IN the government of the United States |
for the benefit of this and future gem |
erations."
His support Of the leasing bill is as
follows
This nation is rich in mineral re-
sources, but for want of adequate leg
islation too many of our resources are
now in a state of nonuse. Existing
laws which have become Anticipated
and out of joint with present day con-
ditions need a general overhaullng. IN
fact, a system of laws is demanded That
nre applicable. that are workable, and
that will open and develop the west.
such VIC believe would be accomplished
by the enactment of the bill under con-
sideration."
The argument made against both of
these bills by western members of con-
gress is:
1--WE feel that we would be recreant
20 tho general public sentiment OF our
state if we did not earnestly protest
against the governmental policy sought
10 be enacted in this bill. Our ob1ec-
ton to the bill is not as to details; 1t
is fundamental and on principle. The
people of our state have always oeen
opposed to having the resources of the
west permanent. withdrawn from pri-
waite ownership nd put into general
federal leasing system. We are OPP
posed to what we believe is an I'M
American policy of government by dis
! tant bureaus. We do not like absentee
landlordism. We have never approved
of bureaucratic rule. We do not like
long distance government. We do not
believe that it is for the best interest
of the country or the west to have
large portions of our state permanently
occupied by federal tenants, renters
who pay little or no taxes and are on
the tenant at viii basis with very
little allegiance to our state
Against Western States.
"NVc believe this bill is in violation
of the moral, legal equitable and con-
stitutional rights of the western states;
in contravention of the enabling act by
which they were admitted into the
union, and to that extent unconstitu
tional. We look upon this bill as alb
solutely taking from the people of the
arid west some of the most sacred
Z property and political rights they have
not only reversing the traditions OF
this government for over a hundred
= years. but violating the very constitu-
tional guarantees upon which those
states were admitted into this union.
Two of Congressman Smiths bills
are OF much interest to mining men
one of which is for the purpose o.
granting $4,000 acres of timber lands
in the national forest reserves to thu
state of Idaho for the construction .
public roads and bridges, and the othc
is a bill to provide for federal aid Il
good roads to permit the several state
TO utilize the superior credit of tn
United States in raising road construc
ton funds to aid the states in mainte
nance of roads. and to create nationa
highway commission.
Taylor's Bill Received.
In addition to the bills mcntione
above Representative Taylors bill I
provide for a commission to codify an
suggest amendments to the genera
mining laws was received. Represent
alive Taylors bill is similar to that {
Senator Smoot of Utah, with two eN
ceptions. Mr.. Taylor suggests tina
the president shall appoint commits
sion of five members to codify IN
mining laws, who shall be selected be
! cause of their experience in or know
edge of the mining industry, and VIII
shall serve without compensation
whereas Senator Smoot suggests tn
revision shall be undertaken by con
mission to consist of two mining al
torneys and one mining engineer, wi
shall be paid for their services. Wes
ern mining men agree with Represent
atiye Taylor in his views concernir
the personnel of this commission, b'
consider, with Senator Smoot Thu
these men shall be paid for their sci
vices. However. they strongly obje
TO the revision of the mining code b.
ing left in the hands of mining Law
,.orr md mining attorneys instead