The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-05
.PlNCHOT WANTS
U. S. RESOURCES
kept IN SAFETY
Opposes Turning Them Over
to Private Owners by Con-
Qress.
BY Clifford Plnchot.


many q question at home. During the
war the hearts and minds OF the men
and women of American we're over.
seas. 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 in.
Quire once more as to the status OF
the conservation movement. It is par.
ticularly right and fitting at the mo-
ment when Theodore Roosevelt. the
man to whom this movement was
most indebted, has left US conserva-
tionists as heirs to the task which he
began.
The people Of the United States own
natural resources OF enormous value
lands that contain more than six
hundred million barrels of oil. four
hundred and fifty billion tons Of coal.
two million acres of phosphate lands.
and more than fifty million undevelop.
ed water horsepower.
Bills In Congress.
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
the house and senate. Az usual the
house bills are mainly sound, the SEN
ate bills thoroughly bad. There is
serious danger that the latter will be
jammed through In the dying hours
Of the present session.
The senate. on January z, 1918. At.
ter very brief consideration, passed
a bill Is. 2S12), dealing with the coal,
oil, gas, and phosphate resources now
in public ownership. This measure.
TN h{1l WOULD
surrender, with the title, all control
Of waste, output, prices. and labor
conditions. 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 ex-
tortion or monopoly. Still worse. It
gives title to fraudulent oil claimants,
many OF whom have already had their
claims denied by the courts. Finally
there Is joker which would over.
throw the present lease law for coal
lands In Alaska, for which we fought
so long, and would turn them over for.
ever to private hands.
House Passes Bill.
A bill for the leasing of these same
resources was passed by the house on
May Is, 1918. This measure (H. 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. 1439) providing for
the granting Of franchises for water
power on navigable streams. lie 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
istration 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
first introduced endorsed 1t heartily.
The house committee on Water Power
later wrote in new clause. the most
vital in the BILL which was very prop
erly opposed by the president. Never.
theless, on September 8, 1918, the
measure passed the house with this
clause included.
Bills In Conference.
The two sets of bills are now IN con.
ference The senate measures both on
minerals and on waterpowers are
worse than the notorious Ballinger
bills,--more hostile to the public in
terest and more helpful to corporate
monopolies. The house bills are en-
tirely different and vastly better. Al
you know, a bill reported from con
ference cannot be substantially amend
ed in the house or senate, but must
be accepted or rejected as 1t stands
The danger is that the bills reported
by 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
closing hours they may pass. The
men who, without regard to party
strive to defeat the passage of the
senate measure, Or any measures like
them, will deserve well Of their coun
try.
The vast natural resources which
are still held by the people can be
made to supply a sound and solid
basis for reconstruction. Properly
conserved and administered. the,
might almost wipe out our gigantic
national debt. There is no good rea
son why they should 60 to make more
millionaires instead Of helping ou
people pay for the war.