Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-21
Giving Public Land to States
Produces Some Skepticism

Doubtpis expressed in general COM
ment as to the feasibility of the plan
suggested by the Presidents commission
en- the conservation and administration
of the remaining portion Of the public
domain. Certain rights would be re-
served by the Federal Government, but
the States would receive jurisdiction
over the rest Of these areas, which were
originally Of large extent. While there
is some approval Of the report, which
calls for congressional action, the ques-
ton is raised as to the value of the
lands and as to the cost TO the States
Of the proposed system.
Pointing out that these lands
once amounted to 1,50O,0 100000 acres,
and that there is an "unproductive
remnant" which the Government
would release Ion its own terms" the
Detroit Free Press recalls that when
the REIMBURSEMENT was first preached
by Mr. Hoover, number Of Senators
from public-land States Scoffed at am
offer which they likened TO that of an
empty shell from which the egg has
been sucked" The Free Press con-
tinues: The efforts of Mr.. Hoover TO
put the public lands on busineSs-like
basis are commendable; and II the CO.
operation of the interested States Is
not forthcoming it will be because he
arrived en- the scene too late, after the
cream had been skinned from the
setting. Generation after generation
has seen administration after admin
istration squahder our once magnificent
II oHvo nT1lx mn nm
still remain Of it. They should be taken
over by the States within which they
lie; but we know of no way of compell-
ing States to take over what they do not
want on terms dictated by an external
authority"
It is felt by the Hartford Courant
that the eminence of the II men COM
posing the commission should be suf-
ficient guarantee of the business of the
plan to the Government" that since
the States may. If they choose, refuse to
accept their allotments, their rights are
fully protected" The Courant believes
that "a number of the States will take
advantage of the offer, If 1t is made
before the remaining valuable portions
are taken up by settlers" The Kala-
mazoo Gazette thinks that "the whole
report will no doubt be studied thor
cughly before any final plan of action
is adopted" and records that lit Is ad-
mitted generally that there Is need Tor
a comprehensive and definite program
of administration" The Gazette con-
cludes that "the facts included In the
report should be highly useful to Con-
gresS when it finally attempts TO DIS
pose of the problem"
Recalling the "cId song that Uncle
Sam Is rich enough to give us all a
farm" the Seattle Daily Times says
1.-The curtain has been rung down on
the policy of supplying homes to those
possessed with the spirit OF the pioneers
in a sufficient degree to make them
tackle the Job of wrestling living from
virgin soil. A mistake was made in
continuing the application Of the hcme-
stead law beyond the period of its use
flIlness. But whether the
States will accept the land is a ques-
ton. Some of it may already be useful
for grazing; some may be developed for
that purpose but the American people
must reconcile themselves to the fact
that the old order has passed. The
land now under cultivation and that
which can be reclaimed for profitable
| use is the limit along that line"
why change eontrol?" asks the San
Bernardino Sun, with the comment on
the proposal made by the investiga-
tors: There is much to be said on both
sides of this question, which is a very
| live one in the West. The States, no
doubt, could and would develop their
public lands faster than the Federal
Government. But there's the rub. Fed
eral conservationists fear the States
would develop the lands too fast. that
in their eagerneSs for opening up OF
unused areas they would sacrifice nat
ural resources and be too liberal with
private interests It is hard for an
unprecedented citizen TO decide where
the rights lie. 1t is easy to say, as some