Evening star., 1932-03-27
STATES INSISTING
ON MINERAL RIGHTS.
West Fights Hoover Plan
for Transfer of Only the
Public Lands.
BY the Associated Press.

Gy the ASSOCIaLeO STeSS.
Firmly aligned against the White
House plan to hand over the public
lands, but keep mineral rights, most of
the Western States now are seeking
what lies under the ground as well as
on the surface.
The Rocky Mountain States of Ari-
Eona, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana
and Colorado, joined by Utah, are par
ticularly vehement on this point
An opportunity has been thrust be-
fore Congress to settle the question at
this session, in bills sponsored by the
administration and by the Spokesmen
for the hostile States, upon which
hearings are being held by Senate and
House committees
Just how far toward a solution this
Congress will get is a disputed point
among members. Even those who Co..
agree on whether action will be taken,
however, agree that none IS likely so
long as the States are denied mineral
rights.
Nye Holds Action Unlikely.
Chairman Nye of the Senate Com
mittee considers action at any time
soon unlikely because of the States
opposition and because of the diver
&6IlCB VI bllC opposing proposals Ava SAAN
transfer.
Senator Walsh, Democrat, Montana,
sponsor of a bill to yield the land with
mineral rights, diSagreeS to the extent
he considers action likely along these
lines. Walsh explained his belief was
based partly on the theory the Eastern
States want the Government to be re-
Ieved of the land.
What to do with the public lands has
arisen in and out of Congress and has
been a troublesome question Tor a
quarter of a century. APPROXIMATELY
! I78, 900 900 acres are involved. the ma
jority in Nevada, California, New Mex
leo Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho,
Utah, Colorado, Washington and
Oregon.
A special committee of 81, headed by
James R. Garfield of Cleveland, and
with members from each Of the land
States, appointed by President Hoover,
made an exhaustive study.
It's recommendations were incorporated
In bills submitted this session for the
Hoover committee by Chairman Nye OF
the Senate committee and Chairman
Evans of the House Lands Committee.
Nye makes clear he is not indorsing
measure, which contains a threefold
plan, providing for:
Transfer of all but mineral rights to
the States if asked for inside OF 10
years.
Establishment of national ranges for
grazing acreage control by the Govern
ment after 10 years if the States do not
accept the land.
Establishment of the national ranges
at any time upon request from the
States.
Other Recommendations.
other major recommendations are:
That States hold proceeds of sale of
granted lands in trust for educational
use; fixing a minimum sales price of So
an acre; exceptions Of acreage for addi-
tions to national forests, and a joint
Federal-State board of five to pass on
these areas.
The States center their opposition
largely upon the mineral rights Ques-
ton, contending this would hamper de-
velopment. AS expressed through In
terror Department officials and Garfield,
the Government feels the minerals
guarded by one controlling agency,
rather than divided supervision among
the States.
Federal spokesmen also contend that
revenues from minerals now go to the
States, which receive 371a per cent out
right, 521a per cent is put into the
reclamation fund for distribution in
projects and 10 per cent to admtnistra-
ton.
Loss of the mineral revenues, the
Interior Department has told the Sen
ate committee, would mean a radical
change in the reclamation policy.
The States also oppose the minimum
price limit, asserting much Of the land
is not worth it, and some object to the
national range idea on the ground graz
ing conservation is problem with
which they have to live and should
control.
They are against the joint board
idea, contending control would rest with
the Secretary Of the Interior, the fifth
member, as two would be State spokes-
men and two represent the Govern
ment
Although most of the States want the
land, so they can tax, control and de-
velop it, the feeling of nearly all appar-
emily was expressed by Howard Smith,
Arizona land commissioner, in letter
to Nye:
Il feel much like the small boy who
asked for an orange, but was given
lemon"