Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17
HOOVER FRAMING
NEW LAND POLICY
President Believes States
Should Derive Benefits
and Watches Leases.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The Government demonstration poll
icy of the Hoover administration is only
a first step in a new program of deal
ing with the public domain, former
Representative Winter of Wyoming said
yesterday after a conference with the
President at the White House
MIR. Winter asserted that the Chief
Executive had plan for dealing with
public lands under which the compare
lively small group of States in which
these lands are located will be able to
realize a return from them. He was
without details of the plan and ad-
miniStration officials declined to dis
cuss the matter
While Mr.. Winter was at the White
House, Secretary Wilbur of the Interior
Department announced the appoint
ment of a committee of three TO re-
view outstanding permits to prospect
for oil and gas on Government lands.
with view to the early cancellation
OF those whose holders have failed 10
protect their equities.
This committee is composed of Will
liam Spry, commissioner of the General
Lands Office. George Otis Smith, di-
rector of the Geological Survey, and
Edward c. Finney, solicitor of the In
terror Department. 1t will begin work
at once.
WiIbur's Statement.
The policy of the committee in deal
ing with these permits was outlined in
this formal statement by Secretary
Wilbur:
With regard to the 10000 outStand-
ing permits on public lands, the de-
partment will deal fairly with holders
who have been diligent in maintaining
their equities. Where actual drilling
operations have been started and are
being continued, opportunity will be
given to carry on development work
to finally determine the character
of the land. Immediate steps will be
taken, however to cancel all such per-
mits where no drilling has been done or
money spent in development.
Where permits are now in good
standing. either because of recent issue
or previous extension of time no action
will be taken during the remaining
period covered by the permit When
that time has expired, however, and
ne permfttee has failed to comply with
@e terms of his permit, he will be
called upon Immediately to show cause
Why the permit should not be Cancelled.
This includes so-called group de-
velopments heretofore approved and in
which extensions have been allowed,
where permittees are engaged in a
joint drilling program, test wells being
drilled by a responsible drilling COM
pany on some OF the public lands in
the area covered by the permits. So
long as this program is being diligently
prosecuted no adverse action will be
taken.
mo leases will be issued for oil and
gas production unless required by man
date of law, such as discovery under
existing permits. as provided by the
mineral leasing act. or through the ad
vertisement of a minimum of $4,000
acres of Usage Indian lands annually,
as directed by the act of Congress APP
proved March 2. 1929"
The Interior Secretary disclosed that
more than 5000 applications for oil and
gas permits are pending in the Cen
eraf Land Office here with many others
in the field Offices. Steps have been
taken to reject all.
Probably in none of the cases on
hand has the applicant expended
money for development purposes Sec
rotary Wilbur said although he may
have gone to some expense in opposing
conflicting claims or furnishing addi-
tionsl evidence in support of his ap-
plication.