Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-12-27
HON. OIL against
EUMINATIONOF
NAVAL RESERVES
Navy Department Opposed to
Giving Company Anything,
Says Senator Swanson

WASHINGTON, D. c.. Dec. IL
Amendments eliminating from the OIL
land leasing bill all references to the
opening of California naval reserves,
were introduced today when the bill
came up in the senate Senator Pitt
man, in charge Of the measure, agreed
to accept them.
Speeches in support Of the bill were
made by Senator Kendrick and Sen,
ator Borah. Senator Borah said the
people in the Western states are OPP
posed to the leasing plan, but, owing
to war conditions, realized that some
action was necessary.
Senator Phelan read message
from the Honolulu Consolidated OIL
Company, protesting against the
elimination Of the naval reserve sec
ton from the bill as unjust and I'm.
fair" He explained the company
controlled about 5000 acres in the re.
serve, and that in the legal proceed
ings in progress for years between
the government and the claimants the
company had won nearly all Of its
claims and the others are pending.
Senator Shafroth urged the Cali.
fornia senator not to oppose the
Swanson amendment, declaring he
believed it better to leave the ques
ton involved to separate bill.
King Flags Bill
Charges that the navy department
"coerced with a bludgeon," the naval
committee into reporting a bill that
would permit the confiscation OF
property without the process OF law
were made by Senator King.
Senator Swanson replied that the
head of the department was satisfied
with the existing law, but was op.
posed to giving the Standard Oil
Company and the Honolulu Com
pany" anything.
"All the navy department wants is
to keep the present law and let the
claimants go into the courts with
their claims" he added This bill
proposes to turn over 100000, 900 to
a few private corporations
Senator Swanson also denied that
Secretary Daniels had coerced Secre
tary Lane, and said that a bin now
being prepared regulating the open
ing OF the naval reserves provides
that the final title to all claims are
to be passed on by the secretary Of
the interior.
Senator Gallinger, minority leader
announced he was opposed to the
leasing system, and would VOTE
against the bill.
The action of government officials
in attempting to get control of all
the naval reserve land was attacked
by Senator King, who declared the
whole policy has been illegal because
the claimants have rights of which
they cannot be Invested.
Calls It Cruel
1t was a cruel and unwarranted
act on the part of. the government
OFFICIALS" he asserted. Il don't care
who they are or the motives that
warranted their action. 1t seems to
me that if We did the right thing as
to those claims which have been
tested in the courts, we would pass
an act confirming the claim, which
would be rebuke to the officials fol-
their officfousness."
The Utah senator criticized what
he called the bureaucratic methods
employed in handling the public do
main, and declared the mining bust
ness in the West has been retarded.
If the mineral lands are to be de-
veloped, he argued, they WILL have to
be opened to the public.
Senator King asked Senator Pitt.
man il any executive opposition to
the bill had been expressed.
Il don't know if there has been
any executive opposition, but I do
know that some Of the most influential
members In the house are opposed"
he replied.
1T might as well be known now in
the senate" interrupted Senator
Smoot, that there is a perfect organ.
ization in the United States, and ha.
been for ten years, known as the con
servation association, and we might
know it has strong influence on con.
gress."