The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-12-09
''Tidelands" Resources Must Be Used

| ototC ooFCIlShlJ III ISidtiOH 10
land waters out into the soil be-
meath the ocean, SO much more
matter of national concern. If this
rationale of the Pollard case is
valid basis for a conclusion that
| paramount rights run to the states
in inland waters to the shoreward
of the low water mark, the same RAJ
tionale leads to the conclusion that
national interests, responsibilities,
and therefore, national rights, are
paramount in waters lying to the
seward in the three-mile belt.
"The government, which holds
its interests here as elsewhere, in
trust for all the people, is not to be
deprived of those interests. -.
"We are faced with the issue as
to whether the state or nation has
paramount rights in the power over
this ocean belt.
owe hold that the United States
is entitled to the relief prayed for"
Emphasis supplied.)
The Court on October 27, 1947,
entered its Order and Decree, which
clearly shows that its decision ap-
plies only to the ocean belt underly-
ing the Pacific Ocean. The peril
nent paragraph is:
''The United States of America
is now, and has been at all times
pertinent hereto, possessed of para
mount rights in, and full dominion
and power over the lands, minerals |
and other things underlying the
Pacific Ocean lying seward three |
nautical miles and bounded on the !
north and south, respectively, by |
the northern and southern boundar- |
les of the State of California. The |
State of California has no title |
thereto or property interest there
in" 1882 US 804, sos, emphasis
supplied.)
The National Association of At
torneys General and the Governors
have been driving to
have congress pass legislation quit
to the coastal states and in
land states all land under navigable
waters whether inland or seward.
Such legislation would be direct
ly against the best interests of the
State of Montana and all other
reclamation states.
May | emphasize that if such
legislation is passed by congress null
flying the decision of our Supreme
Court of the United States, then in
hat event, the Reclamation Fund"
will receive not one cent from this
,abulous natural, national resource,
md thereby Montana and other rec :
amation states will be deprived of
my share of this wealth. Not only :
hat, but California and Texas will
llso participate in the Reclamation
FUND.-, which is supplied from pro-
luction of federal leases on oil pro-
luced IN Montana and other inland
exclamation states.
For, if the decision of the Supreme
COURT stands, 121a per cent royalty
# all of the untold millions of dol
ars of oil produced from the coastal :
ands and of all future production |:
will be delivered into the United /:
states Treasury, of which 521a per :
ent will go to the Reclamation Fund :
nd Montana and all other reclaim
ton states which need reclamation
unds so badly will participate there
n.
I'VE TIMES PROVEN RESERVES :
IF MAINLAND PROPER :
AS to the total amount of pro- :
duction in the three-mile belt, the :
office of Secretary of Interior has :
estimated that there is at least one :
hundred billion (1OO,OOO,OOO, OOO)
barrels of oil, nearly five times the
m ainlands proved reserves. The
of millions of barrels that
have been taken from these lands
can be ascertained by the federal
government. .
The Reclamation Fund.-" received :
its greatest income from :
lie sales of public lands; however, :
lat source has now practically dried :
p. Consequently the senators and :
representatives. from the western =
ates Reclamation states) finally 8