Show Legislation to Prevent Land Steal By Stroke of Pen to be Introduced Legislation to restrict a Pres- Pres President ident dent from using executive i power to freely add thousands of rf acres of land to the National Park System will be introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Laurence J. J Burton Utah R-Utah President Johnson recently added approximately acres to the Park System Including including In in- ini eluding acres in Utah Rep Burton said B By Busing using executive order the President President- by the sweep of a pen took pen took away lands in Utah Arizona and Alaska and put them under I jurisdiction of the National i Park Service This means means that no no further use of the lands can be made by farmers ranchers or anyone anyone any any- one wanting to merely use the water facilities on the land In effect it cut off oU mining rights grazing lands or the use of communication systems It was a hasty decision Not once did Mr Johnson consider the rights of No hearings hearings hear hear- ings were held or citizens con con- I believe my bill will put a stop to such acts THE BURTON bill would restrict restrict re reo strict any President from placing placing placing ing any more than 2560 acres of land under government Jurisdiction jurisdiction Juris juris- i diction at one time This way the preservation of such an antiquities antiquities an an- as historical dwellings graveyards and so 80 forth would be saved Burton Bur ton said But there is Ls absolutely absolute absolute- ly no need t to take thousands of acres without holding public hearings and giving interested I parties the opportunity to make th their lr views known There was no honest reasoning reasoning reasoning rea rea- I behind President John John- sons son's move during the final hour of his administration The Utah Congressman will make a personal inspection trip in February of Arches and Capitol Reef Monuments where Monuments where the increased acreage is effected effect effect- ed and ed-and and then make recommendations recommendations recommendations recommend recommend- to the House Interior Committee on how many acres should be added to make them national parks Certainly we have the most most beautiful scenery in the world Rep Burton added but the President cannot use his Ws authority authority author author- ity to take away lands without asking those who use the lands for a livelihood Next month I intend to speak to those in Utah who have bave an interest in the lands Involve involved There will will be aerial as well as ground inspections From this trip I can mold legislation which will be beneficial to all concerned concern concern- ed ed REP BURTON held held- closed- closed door meetings with the chairman chairman chair chair- man of the e powerful House Interior Interior Interior In In- Committee Rep Wayne N N. Aspinall of Colorado From these conversations I 1 have every indication hearings on the land acquisition will be held in hi Utah as well as Washington D. D C. C Rep Burton said I intend to let the Utah people speak oulon out outon outon on on- problems affecting the state of Utah |