Show GRASSROOTS States Stales Seek Method of Retaining Tideland Wells By Wright A. A Patterson SUPREME COURT decided I 4 by the narrow margin of one vote vote that despite the practices of I imor more than years the tidelands from which vast quantities of oil are being extracted are the property proper proper- ty of the federal government and not of the states Unless this decision deci deci- sion is corrected by definite and unmistakable unmistakable un un- un mistakable legislation by congress lit it means a severe loss of revenue to several states including California and Texas ns 11 11 In fh In en- L AU LI IU LUL mind of Harold Ickes and It was In a keeping with President Truman's welfare state program Congress passed the legislation needed to prevent prevent prevent pre pre- vent the consummation of the seizure but the President vetoed vetoed ve ye- toed it A new bill bUl is now before congress which if passed and vetoed can ean be passed over a aveto aveto veto as more of the states realize the tidelands seizure may be but a prelude to the seizure of ot other natural resources resources resources re re- sources now belonging to the states What Is proposed In the bill bID now before congress Is to toive ive give to the states a quit claim deed for all aU the natural resources resources re re- sour sources es within the boundaries of each Including the coastal waters so BO the federal government government govern govern- ment could not repeat the steal Ickes attempted and with the support of the tho supreme court coarl has up to this point succeeded In putting over Seizure of the tidelands Is one of many moves in the socialization program Back of it all h has s been the hidden motive that h hns s dominated dominated dominated domi domi- the Presidents President's program of socialization of the nation despite what he may have said to the con con- With gold silver coal iron and oil and other natural resources in the hands of a centralized federal federal fed fed- eral government things that were never dreamed of by the drafters of the Constitution we would be far on our way to a centralized socialistic soda social n nation tion and only a step away from totalitarianism The representatives ives of or the people in Washington the members members mem mem- bers of both the tile senate and house should not hesitate in preventing such a consummation tion while there Is yet time Those In Washington who are promoting a socialistic program know ow full well that the great majority of the people do not want It and for that reason they resort to hidden methods to achieve their ends Protection Protection tion against such methods lies with congress The states have leased these tideland oil fields to oil producing corporations and the corporations have invested vast sums in their development in plants and equip equip- meat ment Should such arrangements now be terminated and the federal feder l government now lease these fields to other oil producing companies it would result in a b battle royal in inthe inthe inthe the courts that would clog court calendars for years to come It is isa isa isa a certainty that the present holders of these oil leases made with the states in good faith and in which many millions for drilling and equipment has been invested will not merely move out and sacrifice their investments without a fight to the last court They can hope that the supreme court might change its narrow margin verdict should congress not pass the needed needed need need- ed legislation that would restore those co coast st oil fields to their rightful right right- ful owners the states Should congress congress congress con con- gress not do so it is only a step to another socialistic seizure of state properties effecting practically all of the states It might be good politics for tor President Truman to dispense with the services of a few who have profited from some of ot the graft gratt that h has s been uncovered rather than to wait for the Republicans to use turn the rascals out as a campaign issue The stenographer has her mink coat coat and for tor the good of ot the cause caus could afford to step out of the White House pic plc- ture So also could Paul Dawson who has enjoyed his bis hotel enter enter- It would be a move toward toward toward to to- ward morals and ethics I 4 |