The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1919-02-03
A LETTER FROM CLIFFORD PIN
CHOT.

I
letter from Clifford Pinchot, formerly
U. S. forestry agent. While not hold
ing Office under the government at
present, Mr.. Pinchot is an ardent
champion of forest conservation:
Philadelphia, Jan. 80, 1919.
Mr.. L. L. Lucas,
Editor The Leader,
Tarpon Springs, Fla.
Dear Mr.. Lucas:
The end of fighting in France opens
many question at home. During the
war the hearts and minds of the men
and women of America were overseas,
but with the coming of victory we
can turn again to home affairs. 1t is
right and fitting, therefore, that the
friends of conservation should inquire
once more as to the status of the con-
servation movement. 1t is particular
ly right and fitting at the moment
when Theodore Roosevelt, the man to
whom this movement was most in
debted, has left US conservationists as
heirs to the task which he began.
The people of the United States own
natural resOuces of enormous value
lands that contain more than six hun
dred million barrels of oil, four hun
dred and fifty billion tons of coal, two
million acres of phosphate lands, and
more than fifty million undeveloped
water horsepower.
Legislation is now pending in con-
gress to trade or give all this away,
While public attention was absorbed
by the war, measures to dispose Of
these resources quietly passed both
house and senate As usual the house
bills are mainly sound, the senate bills
thoroughly bad. There is serious dan
ger that the latter will be jammed
through in the dying hours of the
present session.
The senate, on January 7, 1918, af-
ter very brief consideration, passed a
bill IS. 2812), dealing with the Goa
oil, gas. and phosphate resources now
in public ownership. This measure,
masquerading as a leasing bill, would
surrender, with the title, all control
of waste, output, price, and labor con-
ditions. 1t fosters speculation in coal.
oil gas and phosphate, and gives no
assurance of prompt development.
Even the leasing provisions afford no
protection to the public against extor-
ton or monopoly. Still worse, it gives
: title to fraudulent oil claimants, many
of whom have already had theil
claims denied by the courts. Finally
= there is a joker which would over.
throw the present lease law for Goa
private hands.
u A bill for the leasing Of these same
resources was passed. by the house OF
May 25, 1918. This measure III. R
3232) is much fairer to the public in
terests than the indefensible compan-
ion bill passed by the senate.
, On December IA, 1917, the senate
passed bill IS. 1897 providing for
the granting of franchises for water,
power on navigabe streams. It is
substantially the notorious and dis
reputable Shields bill of the previous
congress, which was defeated by pub
lie condemnation. The house did not
approve it, but passed instead an en-
tlrely new bill, drawn by the admin
lstratlon and covering waterpower not
only on navigable streams, but also
upon public lands and national for
eStS, and international WATERWAYS.
When this administration bill was
ilrst introduced | endorsed it heartily,
The house committee on water power
later wrote in new clause, the most
vital in the bill, which was very prop
erIy opposed by the president. Never
theless, on September 5, 1918. the
measure passed the house with this
clause included.
Inc TWO set SOf bills are now in
conference. The senate measures both
on minerals and waterpowers are
worse than the notorious Ballinger
bllls-more hostile to the public inter
est and more helpful to corporate mon
opoIles. The house bills are entirely
different and vastly better. AS YOU
know, bill reported from conference
cannot be substantially amended in
the house or senate, but must be ac-
cepted or rejected as it stands. The
danger is that the bills reported bv
the conference, both on minerals and
on waterpower, may be like the senate
bills, and unlike those of the house.
and that in the confusion of the clos
ing hours they may pass. The men
who' without regard to party, strive
to defeat the passage of the senate
measures, or any measures like them,
Will deserve well of their country.
IN