Show PROTECTING MINERS I I I I BILL TO GRANT EXCLUSIVE LEASES IS OPPOSED i I Referred to the General Land Office Commissioner Hermann Puts a I Quietus Upon the Measure Washington April S Seer bills which have been Introduced In Congress I Con-gress have been referred to Commissioner Commis-sioner Hermann of the General Land office for his judgment as to their merIts mer-its One of these provides that exclusive exclu-sive leases for mining purposes may be granted to lands within the territory of the United States which lie below high i water mark I ls proposed to grant leases upon condition that a bond of 85000 be given to insure proper fulfillment fulfill-ment ofN the agreement Commissioner Hermann reports adversely on this bill for the reason that while Cape Nome Is not specifically mentioned in It the evident Intent Is to make It apply there I Is held to be contrary to the policy or the United States Government to grant exclusive leases of this character charac-ter to gold fields and the proviso In regard re-gard to a SoOOO bond would operate to exclude poor miners from securing grants Another bill upon which adverse rej port Is made provides for leasing public pub-lic lands In the arid regions for grazing graz-ing purposes Adverse report also has been made upon a somewhat similar bill oC a more general and farreaching nature which proldes for leasing any available public lands for grazing The Commissioner says that the courts have held such action to be contrary to the custom of a hundred years which permits j per-mits the free use of SUCh lands by anyone any-one and says that In his Judgment the time has not come to overturn this policy |