Evening star., 1934-05-23
PRESIDENT URGES
BETTER OIL LAWS
Illegal Production Threaten.
ing Control System, He
Declares.
CONTINUED From First Page.)

both in eliminating unfair practices
and in raising the price of crude
petroleum to a reasonable level, which
has brought added employment and
more wages to those engaged In oil
production.
Il am frankly fearful that if the
law Is not strengthened, illegal pro-
duction will continue and grow in
volume and result in collapse of the
whole structure. This will mean
return to the wretched conditions
which existed in the Spring of 1888.
"I hope therefore that the pro-
posed legislation can be enacted. I
do not want to see this important
American industry reduced to the
condition under which it was operat-
ing before the oil administration
started its work"
Answers Elliott Charge.
Meanwhile, Secretary IckeS said mo
two statements could be farther from
the truth" than accusations published
in California by directors of the Inde-
pendent Petroleum Association OF that
State that Ickes' orders as oil admin
istrator Disseminated against indie
pendents and threatened them with
destruction.
The Secretary said he felt the state
ments were issued more as propa-
ganda to help John B. Elliott of
California politically than to portray
actual conditions"
The oil administrator said he under
stood Elliott was connected with the
California association.
Elliott and the very small group
he has gathered around him In Cali
fornia, representing only fractional
per cent of the Pacific Coast inde-
pendents and industry" the Secretary
said, have always opposed any
measure of regulation that would
handicap his ambition to boss things
in that area or that would prevent
his small group from producing and
refining at will, regardless Of the dam
age done to the industry as whole. :"
Other Messages Due.
The President at his press confer
ence today said he would send up
only two other messages in addition to
war debts. One of these will be a
declaration of broad policy on use
of the Nations water resources. The
other will be a proposal for recon-
sideration of the newly enacted Coco
nut oil levy.
A special cabinet committee has
drafted a voluminous report on all
forms of use of water in all sections
of the country in response to a con-
gressional request.
The President is going to outline
to Congress, on the basis of this re-
port, a broad policy dealing with
forestry, soil erosion, marginal land
and food control. 1t will not require
legislation this session. Specific
projects will not be detailed.
Studies Grazing Problem.
1t had been understood he would
send a social policy message. MIR.
Roosevelt said today he did not have
in mind a specific message on this
subject.
1t also was said President Roosevelt
is conferring with Western Senators
in the hope of working out a co-ordi-
mated grazing policy.
Congressman from Western States
are fearful that the necessity of deal
ing both with the Forest Bureau and
the Department of Interior may re-
suit in slip-ups.
The President has assured them he
favors establishing a coordination
officer to make sure that the forest
lands used in Summer and the public
domain, which is used in Winter, are
available for grazing as needed.