Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-02-16
OIL CLAIM Relief
SOON IS UNLIKELY;
WILSON 'sTUMPED'
Intricacies of California Con-
troversy BeWilder President,
Who Proposed Compromise
ey c. Q. ALsERT

WASHINGTON, ID. C., Jan. 3l.--
President Wilson is bewildered by the
magnitude and intricacies Of the Cali
fornia oil lands controversy. He was
urged to undertake q settlement OF
the dispute by prominent senators and
others interested. He promised all
possible assistance. II was believed
that he could arrange some kind OF
compromise.
II is now officially admitted that
the president is entirely at sea In the
oil fight He is extremely anxious for
appears in sight. No. progress has
been made in unraveling the tangle.
Congress Cannot Act
With the president thus stumped 1t
seems unlikely that any remedial legis..
lation can be passed at this session
of Congress. Time Is pressing and
the usual Jam OF important business
at hand. It is almost self-evident
hat part of the administrators legis-
lative program must go by the board.
II such proves to be the case the
California land troubles doubtless will
60 down IN the general smash.
II the land leasing bill now should
come up on the floor OF the senate
alter IL pfesloept was invited 70 &C.
as aroi4f, there VIII pe long ano
bitter oepate. y y sueeesteo tnat
this might prove embarrassing 10 tne
administration.
Inc president hes caiieo lor maps
OF the la1os enQ TOT names OF ine
locaters aflecteo. and VIII confer win
Secretary DtqieH epQ Attorney Gen
erai 6reeory ana neef tne navy sloe
OF the ccnIoN4..l ana tnen near
what 5ec[etary .,e mas 70 say Iof
the intefioE lepnf-Ienh Which mas
contenoeQ tnet me Neguities OF tne
lessees snoutQ nQt De oleregaroed or
their properly contisceteQ even unoer
the euise Or tetter tatioS OF tne OH
supply ior tne navy
Ccniitcti1y interreH rslt Senakers
Iuere - tNnl9er q senator's ae-
sirous OF DONG WAT mey ieei IL
nsnt IN the mh1SsL' eut tne senators
are naitIne DetMsen tne aue,ce u ene
secretary ot tne navy, Wnicn sus.
gests z fecoenlsion ol tne neeos 2.
the navy TOT ipel Oh ast an impoftan.
part OK the preparedness proefam ana
the disreenru q present interests
seeking 70 set OIL concessions 70 Wnich
they are not enupeo eltner py law
or equity. ano the advlce OF the secre.
tary OF the interior tnat entrymen 10
good fai1 nave oone ueveiopment
work IN the navy reserves and should
be permlttea 70 ENJOY tnelr leases.
Already some OK the western lsena.
tors interested IN the roco6nltiOn OF
the private interests nave charged
Secretary Daniels WIN oisretaru 2.
etutes ano Win having muckrakeo
interior department
Jharges that an actiVe iooDy nam.
tanned by OIL interests mas neen az
work In the caplt0i corrioors lor sew
erai weeks IN the interests OF the prl-
vate entrymen is also being oandiea
with threats that the senate loDoy
committee may oe invited 70 get ousy.
lane states situsficn
In letter 20 senator fneian, pup
lished IN the congressional RECORD
January IL. Secretary Lane says:
There are now withorawn from
public entry total OF 6.bI0,zSz acres
of oil lands. These Withdrawals have
been made upon the advice OF the geo
logical survey. OF this great BODY OF
land there are reserved lor naval puT.
poses, Naval Reserve NO. I, Ss.O6S
acres IN California; Naval Reserve NO
2, 30,lS1 acres IN California; Naval
Reserve No. 3. saSl acres IN Wyom-
ing; total or 1F,1S0 acres, exclusive
OF two withdrawais recently MADE oI