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Show ROOSEVELT URGES FEDERAL LEASING OF MINERAL LANDS Special Message Sent to Congress Advocating Ad-vocating Also Government Control of Public Land Pastures; Asks for More Money for Land fraud Investigations. In n special mossnco To Congress today. President Roosevelt urges new public land legislation. Tie takes the ground that the (ioverument should retain title to its fuel resources, and advocates a system of (loverament leasing of mineral lands. The President also recommends an increase in the appropriation ap-propriation for probing land frauds". WASHINGTON. FEB 13 -PRESI DENT ROOSEVELT TODAY SENT TO CONGRESS A LONG MESSAGE CALLING ATTENTION TO WHAT HE TERMS "THE URGENT NEED OF LEGISLATION AFFECTING THE DIFFERENT PHASES OF THE PUBLIC PUB-LIC LAND SITUATION IN THE UNITED STATES." THE PRESIDENT ADVOCATES THE CONSERVATION OF COAL AND' OTHER FUEL RESOURCES ON LANDS STILL BELONGING TO THE GOVERNMENT. SAYING THAT HENCEFORTH THE NATION SHOULD RETAIN ITS TITLE TO ITS FUEL RESOURCES; URGES GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF THE WESTERN PUBLIC LAND PAS TURES, WITH A SYSTEM OF SMALL GRAZING FEES. ETC.. AND ASKS FOR AN APPROPRIA TION OF HALF A MILLION DOL LARS. IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION TO PRESENT ESTI MATES, TO AID IN DETECTING AND PREVENTING LAND FRAUDS. HE CONTENDS FOR A SYSTEM OF 1 GOVERNMENT LEASING OF ITS 1 MINERAL LANDS. AND FOR TREATING THESE FUEL LANDS AS PUBLIC UTILITIES. i President Charges Fraud. v8'rr ar t!r, urg1 I !s olalrr.fi 'ha' pi 'irg a par' of fh r-oal In om of rhe W5-rn :atp h.a alrpaly passed Into th" !ian1j of .-prtajn large corporators corpora-tors 'ha- parties pniavorlns to opra' in.ir a u jvs'err.. othr coal deposits. depos-its. wou!3 be unable ro compete wl'fi ne- ,-orporat ior.s. and therefore, that f:l iiposi'$ still belonging to th iloirnm'ri sh--j' 1 also be allowed 'r p in'o prtva'e ownership presumablv in: 'he hands of h same or other lars orporar !ons ! is also claimed that re-n.sMon re-n.sMon of -h fuel supplies at til belonging be-longing ro Government would ral the prti of ,-oa' in the 'es'. and as an argun-en- :n favor of this contention. It l o;ime1 . 'h rser'ation of the nat-f.i'.-s ; raising th price of lum-k lum-k & - j h - "I' sho-;: 1 h rrr.e-rherd 'hat the best an 1 rr"S' access. ble belles nl timber In li W' p.se1 In'o private ownership ' f resr'es esab- i:.h-.1. '-a- while the price of timber I as a.lvar. -e.1 m the Wept. I' has ad- f f '-'1 to- in th Fas', where there, are no f :' reserves, that supplies of timber ate i.iav being shipped from 'he - "ne t"rk's of h Mississippi y..' ri " 'o foreign -"ountrles; an, I - n prohahl'.rv of ohf alr.tng fu-":t fu-":t s'irr 'e of both timber an1 miner min-er -i: fue' m the Wes a" reasonable ! prr-., will be mui'h graer w-ith a larwe pot-.,.-,., So'! f.-.r.it, ani the fuels I unlei the control of 'he Government than 1' this control shoul1 pass to private 1 par'les To .ipo'ire cheapness of timber , an.i fuel for tpe moment at 'he o.-s' of ruin 'o oijr own '"hlMren would surely be a s ; : c l-ia 1 poll -y. Advantages of Leasing. I' ray be fairly o'.ain-e, amorc 'he frtet;.!s of 'he a.;nc 'ha' ' r w 1'' (lr V ' 'e o-''"g :n lf ih'e n - !:! f ! -to--: a ' t n-.ir- .e- to m.f !'.' I ' - ' ' H.pi'H' as , . : - e. I 1 ; i ' " T. !' - i ' 1 . a :'f?es 1 w:'l he paid on- ; r.e e i":,iSJ . ( j 1 i; 1 w 1 1 ' '. 1 1 1 1 e lareer ' pe r ". " as th i ea--s a-e nia.io s :h. len'lv I.' era- m ':i I -i I'ter of 'me. a-ea And o'he; , .vMiilor.s. 'o ;nv;!-e h.eal'hv -o;? pe':";.n unl rnee' , a!' e: ,i'i:.4"..i. ,i:i! '. e' i'1 1' ases -is e:-e-H' v;per lei- 'n of 'he O-'ve? p.ment 1". Is hel!.'fiH. I'oili e su i as pre;ep. . w as'e m --e e:-a " an 1 handling of i 1 . ' -e ' . . s .' e ' e ' r- i ; 1 ti, . .-.' . In s ; :. a marr.e' is pre etr 'he evils of n; -. p 1 c.-ri'-o', ! !'! permi' e i . 'f ;.i r,. v. e fro-;-, general I . se f : .- a e pe 1 - -a : : .i h'e fir m e ' 1 -' -al 1 o- her spe -l.al 'n-l'i' ries . and j hv : : I . enih!e - i e-'. -eti' 'o pro-j pro-j '" he p-ihli - ,isil".' . e tsonable and .l:s : intit'in? 1 ' '. -r fuel supplies. I ' I e i j proa'v T.e -half of 'i.e to'al a re. i f e hv.- -z'" !s in 'he West has p.se i ur 1e- p-.v . -ntrI. tnctul-I tnctul-I l:g- ;-e r.-l '..-.e -oal area-s. these pr-.-'s-e h-'',-j( probably aRre-j aRre-j g.i'e -o- s ' i -. .I1 lV',l'1lli asjres of ooa he;,-;s Wit:. e re:r.alnder of trt I :.n-'. -op.talnlrjt n.:eral fuels reserved at.d '.ease.) hy 'he r, iv"-,Tr,! there will he an;r ortwr- .ir.ttv to determine, n ! . : i ' 'ontir.ued on Page 4 I ''"' I'reM,!,n- p.,., .. .. ,,. ,. w , , I f-avf :'""n tf - Ka-'ern ,,; la.-. !- i. ad he.--, .ir.Ar .;..e;nrr.ep. e--:.-:o;. and s p--i:" in -;-e 1 'S' "against re. urren. e of e . ... . . ti-.sm we deploy ii. Ka,- 1 l''h Z. a s e 5 of p ; i . I : - ' .1 i . : r'"-s : f"'l:' !!" -t-.e.-.'ior-.e j. --e I I tesident HD -.-o-nplian e w !': --e ,aw. was '.v;n. )rl r,' . uelthera-e fra .d !-. erv -nan-. . ,(s..s T;. rres, .,.; T!f, ...;v-s ,, .,,.,.. o ;.s messajfe , c' -:,f .-. .-.. .s-'n-e -- ard attain rn'.'.f at o .. ::r.p.'rt-a:i. ::r.p.'rt-a:i. e ,.f s-;,.f, a '. is ..-.i:d 'pro. Vl-le for ti-le to an 1 d -. e , . p-r e -. of the I surface land, as sf.i:d-. and ,os.... f"n, trie Ttgh to e i;r.der:::-s :iiine-ai t :e.s. !! regions vs r.e e o. -.-:;. ! and 'he ,!;Sp,ij t; of rvs- :ti : r-. ' a I ' .es I un.ii- a l.-a.-e s ste: ,-.-.:!,jr!o: s wi-.'.--i I n.-'il! tti'ire t.-.e bi:i' ..f ne p.iol:.-as p.iol:.-as a h.o;o He sas ... a- ::-e f r tie d.etails. and iha- ::.- r.ee.j':s '.'.ai trie nvstetr. ..-..--. I 1 : e .- .i:i.s,.! T e message in pa: a- "In the ni'ed S'..:es. a.-. -or e . . an e ,,! the tiiin.-r.il -;t.-.-s . . s-.r. f. e ;:as been .-o.m n m i i . $p. ara'e de eiopn-.ent of ; w ete.s' s is ie.uit-K. and in 'he Kts'err. at;-! nud-d-e Sta'es a large part of ti.e .,i; is e. 'n.lned under a s steti- ..' private Itass it is gratlfyii-i; ii -.r.-,. .'r.at :n ti'.-s.- States, as in '. -re sn o . n -; . s . , rl - :.f.r and nimirg ar- -r.d . ! wi- -In the same boundaries an 1 :..s a--a ins Its h :-.- t dill !e-, p. n-."i' ,'j.oi.t i'.i:;S: .f ;:!-Pe !e- !. :i.e mtnir.i; in ! rv an! -;.e frt - -'i.-s :s;t.K th-se f .,.. . re t . ' yga . a I -na rk et s fir ' :: e p:-. . ; . s , ' .. x , .. Fuels, Public Utilities. "M : -i .i r ..-Is :.n- : - f r . s T-d ' -.h ifc.i : f -e m a.... .. i ; ,. -..-. p..h ; .rilr-. s T ..s : , n.-ra I . : - K -n:z.-d ,.tu. ad In p. f..r-:;:i .. .. .r.,,s pr.l- i ! I r. ! of a a - ;c j. f : s. . ,.s was a'l : - t- an i !"- "" ' I 'i-.ii- a- t- .. ; :.- v s- . j ' ' is ;-. : .;. - .,- .. .. . , . ' ' s t ' : af-- ..ird.e ! f .- r -- ' ','!: i'en. -''.'..''..tt " I i .r. ' '. ;.:.-al- ' ' : -- ; ,. t ' eia-h.n :: d.; -t:i:( f ; ... , ed h'. .- p: . e -a . :. a . - t n a -. i -e ii e : . . i : : : . . , . - i ... j . , '!. '.-- i.W'i 'r'- S-.i'-.s a' n' -r:. s .... s- ar m . w ;- ' -' ept ' is rendered :,.- esar : ; s.r a ;. n as p : I . a - i ' . ; : . ei .v ! 'ii ot e f..r-s- '. ; ,r; o.se of .-.t.perv::- :.. wa'.-- i- - timber s.;pp; . .:. - . ; .. : . . ni7.-d as i wise a i ; : . p - i . -. , ,f , tne l-'cderal ",.o."i : T1 . n--.-;-y of Kra..'e n..- al f .. --i - - - U : rela'iel nil.. ri s.- ..i-i : a of : fiuests and e t ' i'-sr-t': o' these f -: ' s . s a n a ' i ' ' i " : i ii . ; ; ni -por t ar- j "This ' ;.u . : - n-.e-i -. .: I - - -.w : e. ! peat 'he ".:--.ikr. pa.s- I.- 1 n.o d-i w ;-..' i t-.e e::er.t tort a- j und-i We !.a e a ' -'-.e prop.. of ho-;i -tie f ij-s-s .ii'.-l ---e f .( ,;; :t,K I o u : I . f ii. ' . s . , ' - i .. I r, : . 1 I S po of ttie btr'hrsn.'-t of v:r . .-.i: ir.; If . t-.j, O.nerttt-.-:.' ::. rs reitiar-ii.ic fuel lanis tf-.ev pass ,,.' ,.f its fit i't- . ..n't"! If I' i-..'.v '. as. s :-! t- r'Uiii r-ir".; and a f : -:re "opicress !'! h at i;srr v t- de ' w ::e"-.-r ; ii! continue or ehai-.ce this poll---. "Mea:-( h ,. i:.e i ;.- eminent can Inaugurate Inau-gurate a s-.s-erri n.'.i h will encourage the separa'.- a'i.1 i n.epnr) n ; ,le;0p. men' of the surfaeo lands for agricultural agricul-tural put poses and the etrac'lon of the mineral fuels in su. h manner as will hesr meet it.e needs of the people and bes- fadM'ate t- development of manufacturing man-ufacturing Industrie Eeplies to Objections. 'i aai awaie that objections to this ROOSEVELT URGES. . i j -,' (Continued from page I.) the near future," which" of xthe two eye tema private ownership, or the leasing system with feaerel Oevermm ent supervision super-vision will beet protect the tn teres is of the people and thus promote the permanent, perma-nent, development .of the West. EeTenues 'Not Considered. ' "In plannin such a leasing system by the Government, the question of revenue be road that aeoeasary to cover expenses of administration and exploration, need not be seriously considered. The spirit of areneroslty, which the country as a whole has shewn in connection with the disposal of Its public lands and the 'use of the proceeds from the sale of these lands for the further development of the West. throuxh the reclamation service and In other ways, is of Itself a sufficient ruarantee that tn the administration of both the coal reserves and the national forests, this policy will be continued. "It Is safe to believe also that Federal supervision of both the coal lands and the forests will be reduced to a minimum and that In the future even more than In the past, this supervision will be limited to that necessary to carry out the policy of conservlna: these natural resources In such a manner as will beat promote the permanent Interests of the peopt- and above all of the Western people and the people tn the neli-hborhood of the mines and the forests which we seek to preserve for the public use. "The necessity for care In the future manacsment of these fuel suppllss is further Illustrated by ths rapid rate at which the use of such fuels is Increasing In the United States. "This remarkable development and the certain continuity of these prodigious arowths compels as to recast all estimates esti-mates as to the life of our Inexhaustible resources.' We can foresee the time when the Eastern Industries will be much more largely taxed for supplying foreign markets. mar-kets. "It would surely be greatly to ths advantage ad-vantage of this country If some at least of the coal fields of the East. And especially es-pecially of the anthracite fields, had been left under the control of the Government. Let us provide In the West against the recurrence of ths conditions which we deplore de-plore In the East. At the outset the law would be administered In a spirit of ths broadest liberality with the least possible interference with the development of the coal fields. Moreover. I cannot too emphatically say that all laws which merely seek to prevent monopoly of the mishandling of the public by forbidding combination, are to fail of their purpose. "Our experience with the Interstate Commerce and anti-trust laws shows that what Is needed is not prevention of all combinations, but such a supervision and control over combinations and over corporations cor-porations entering into them, as will prevent pre-vent tbs evils while giving to ths public the advantages of the combination. "Let me also agsln urge that legislation be passed to provide for Government control con-trol of the public pasture lands of the West on the same general principles which now apply in the Government control con-trol of the forest reserves. The local control of the range should be In the hands of Western men familiar with stock raising, snd there should be a full local hand In the management of the range. There is no need at present that the Government should get a net revenue from graslng on ths public range, but merely enough to pay for administration and development and It may be wise to provide that any surplus shall go to the Btatss and the Territories In which the fees sre collected. To Probe Trends. "Let me urge that Congress provide that $500,000 In addition to the present estimate be Immediately appropriated to the clearing of arrears of business In the general land office ss regards the detection de-tection snd prevention of fraud In disposing dispos-ing of application for paiems to the public pub-lic lands. "I wtnh to express my utter snd complete com-plete dissent from the statements that have been mads as to there being but a minimum of fraud in the working of our land laws. "I am sxceedlngly anxious to protect the Interest of bona fide settlers, and to prevent hardships being Inflicted upon them. But surely we are working In their Interest when we try to prevent land which should be reserved for them and those like them from being taken possee-slon possee-slon of for speculative purposes or obtained ob-tained In anv fraudulent fashion." The President savs the present force of speolsl sgents Is utterly Insufficient to conduct ths proper field exsmlnatlons. but adds that In six months ending r.jerub"r 31. last, they secured Indictments in 137 actions for fraud, twenty-clx of which hsve been tried, resulting In fourteen convictions con-victions and twelve acquittals. In the forest reserves, where we have been aMe to examine a great number of claims, he adds, in about, on-thlrd the law wss not compiled with. The message concludes. "From the standpoint of the public In-ter(.t In-ter(.t failure tn prevent fraud of this kind Is peculiarly serious hocau. In o many cases the success of the fraudulent rlalmsnt means th prevention of ths establishment es-tablishment of a home by some honest homesteader. The earnest wish of the administration Is to discontinue the ad-ertlement ad-ertlement of fraud In connection with the public lund svTem: hut the only way to accomplish this is by putting a stop to the fra id Itself." |
