The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-08
OIL AND COAL
LEASING BILL
PASSES SENATE

WASHINGTON. Jan. THE Walsh
Pittnan OF and coal land leasing bill
Was passed by the senate late today oS
q vote Of s. TO So. II now goes t" the
house.
The OF, land leasing hill has been
nendinc In the senate for tour years. Its
MASSAGE at this. session was made posi-
hle hy an agreement to eliminate from
Its provisions .he naval oil reserves.
which was urged by the navy depart
ment. \ separate bill providing for the
oprcatton OF these reserves by the gov
eminent. the leases OF the present claim
ants being obtained either through corr
domination proceedings or by direct pur-
chase, il being framed now and Will ne
introduced as soon as approved by freS-
ident Wilson.
Consideration Of the Fittman bill was
begun In the senate prior 10 the nou-
DAYS, but under an unanimous agree
ment a final vote was not taken unls
late today The vote follows:
For The Bill
Observation-Disclosures. Sanknnad. Beck
ham, Chamberlain. Fletcher. terrE'
Hollis, Jones. New Mexico: hendrIck.
Lewis, Mcclellan. Myers. orerman. ow-
IN phelan. p;t;man. Pomerene. Rams
doll EOOltSpH.. SNtl<klL'NRis S'''' ff~N' ~
Shields simmons. Smith. Arizona: Ster-
mng Stone. Thompson and Wolcott--"S.
nubliccrs-Fernald Hale. Johnson.
california: Knox. Lodge. McCumher. Nc
Lem, McEary and Warren--e.
Total 81.
Against the BILL
Democrats-Gore. Hardwick. Johnson.
souti, Dakota: King. Kirby. Smith
South Cardinals Swanson. Tltlman'
Trarmcll. Underwood and Nardaman-
Eeoubl;cans-Rorah. Calder. Cumrntns'
Curtis France, Frelinshuysen. Calling
ar. Gronna. Harding. Jones. OF WASH
;nqton. Ke1loS, Kenyon. LaFoliette'
New, Norris. Potndexter. Sherman
Snoot. Sutherland. Townsend ana "aos-
worth-21.
As finally passed the bill PROVIDES
Tor the general leasing OF coal F"'S
phate, oil. gas and sodium lands oF t''e
secretary of the Interior. with roSaAIt"S
70 be paid 70 the government. ana .''
-rn,cbssr Of th,, lands by lessees under
certain conditions. With the eNceq|'|'i
of tho provision 70 open naval reserve
number -. in California. which was
illuminated, ;ie bill was passed virtually
Dis tll. 'tNNSN-
.ch. PRINCIPAL fight today was over
s.c,ions which Senator Pittman. III
rn,rre of rho measure. declared we're IN
serted as a protection again monop"iteS'
They prorid., that no person. association
or CORPORATION shalt BE- permitted 10
hold by leases an area greater man
$50 acres and chat tesseeS snail not
hold more than tenth interest IN any
organization engaged III the transpor-
tatio, ur refining Of minerals.
An amendment by Senator SterlinS'
,arujt,inr holders Of claims TO COM
hine with tnn consent OF IN" secretary
OF th. Interior for the 2urpoS" OF con-
strnc,inr r!p. lines. and refnertes was
adopted. ',,
Senator Thomas vigorously opposed
IN. Sterling amendment an" s"ctions
limiting le.seeS stock in refining COM
ranies, declaring that he lid not ne
1ieve. congress should penaliZe 4 man tor
buying stock. His motion TO Slr'Ae que
the section was rejected.
The senate also rejected senator Mr.
hy-s amrndmcut which would have au-
thorized the president 70 develop. H'ihf
nnd Operate coal and oil properties or
public lands when the pubtlc "N'senC'eS
require it.
An amendment. by Senator King pro-
vi6fng that no public mineral lands can
no withdrawn by the president or any
reserve created except by act OF cor
yress was accepted. mother amend
men, by tho Utah senator providing t"E
rho cedirG Of ak unrcserved public iahus
TO the states WAS defeated.