Evening star., 1953-02-24
Mckay Favors
Giving 0ffshore
Oil toStates
Continental Shelf
Also included in
Recommendations
By the Associated Press

Kay recommended today that
Congress enact legislation
promptly giving the States clear
title to the submerged coastal
lands. Some of the lands are rich
in oil and their ownership long
has been in controversy.
Setting forth the Eisenhower
administrations views, Mr.. Nc
Kay told the Senate Interic%
Committee he was not indorsing
any specific bill.
But he said there should be
prompt enactment of legislation
dealing not only with the lands
beneath the marginal seas but
also in the continental shelf out
beyond the States seaward boun-
darieS.
Mr.. Mckay did not state any
specific mileage, but it is gener-
ally argued that these offshore
State boundaries are 3 miles
out to sea in all States except
Texas and the Gulf Coast of
Florida. Those States claim 1Oh
miles because of conditions un-
der which they Joined the Union.
Effect Of Proposals.
Mr.. McKay's recommendations
came down to this: That the
States should have the oil wealth
from under the seas out to their
historic boundaries" and that
the Federal Government should
have any recovered from beyond
those boundaries.
Referring to the oil and gas
deposits in the offshore lands,
Mr.. Mckay said:
II believe that the national
defense will be best served by
getting more active production
from these submerged lands;
and that it is equally important.
therefore, that the Congress
should in the same legislation
establish a procedure by which
development may go forward on
all Of the lands in the con-
tinental shelf outside of a line
marking the historical bound
aries Of the several States with
all Of the revenues to 60 to the
Nation as a whole.
~ The continental shelf extends
so to 125 miles out from the
shore line in the Gulf of Mexico,
three to five miles from the Pa
cif1c shore and about so miles
from the Atlantic coast. At the
edge Of the shelf the sea bottom
drops off precipately from a
depth of some 500 feet to several
thousand feet.
Mckay said the Interior De-
partment, or such other depart
ment or agency as the President
may designate, should be en-
powered in the legislation to
provide for exploration and de-
velopment of the offshore areas
and to enforce production con-
servation measures.
Was Issue in Campaign.
The future of the submerged
lands was an issue in last years
presidential campaign. Gen.
Eisenhower, as the Republican
candidate, favored Federal con-
cession of State rights. His stand
was credited with influencing
Texas to give him its electoral
vote.
The Truman administration
backed Federal claims. President
Truman several times vetoed
bills to give title to the States.
And, shortly before leaving Office.
Mr.. Truman issued an order
which he said made the oil a
naval petroleum reserve.
However, the present Attorney
General, Herbert Brownell, has
ruled the order merely gave the
Navy Department administra-
ton of the lands.
Obviously having in mind the
Truman order, Mr.. Mckay said:
II believe that such admins
trative responsibilities would rest
most appropriately in the De-
partment of the Interior"
He noted that the department
has long been concerned with
the conservation and develop
ment of the public resources.