Show Pending Senate Bill il Would Hit Western States Bennett Says By Bj Sen Wallace F F. Bennett BennettA A bill which would strike a devastating blow against the Western Vestern states is now being considered by Congress If passed passed passed pass pass- ed it would make It extremely difficult for the West Vest to de develop develop de- de elop more of its natural re- re sources I 1 refer to the so called Wilderness Wilderness Wild Wild- erness Preservation bill S S. S 1176 1170 Hearings have now been held heldon on this bill by the Interior committees committees committees com com- of both houses and the bill is picking up considerable popular support mostly I think among people who do not understand it it The title of the bill makes s it sound as if it were a rather h harmless piece of legislation After all who can object to preserving preserving preserving pre pre- serving the wilderness and protecting the natural beauty of our om forests Would Eliminate Grazing But nut the bill would do far more than that It would provide gradual elimination of the grazing grazing grazing graz graz- ing of livestock in the wilderness wilderness wilderness wilder wilder- ness areas it would stop location location loca loca- tion and patent of mining claims and the leasing of oil and gas resources it would prevent the building of roads into any wild areas and it would tie the hands of the National P Park rk Service Service Ser Ser- vice in administering our na- na parks In effect it would mean that vast areas practically all in inthe inthe inthe the West Vest would be maintained maintained maintained main main- solely for the enjoyment of the few hikers and campers who can get to them Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota who introduced the bill bul maintains that existing uses and privileges are respected respect respect- ed in this bill a aril and d private rights are protected protected- I think ho however how how- y- y lv over ever r that m many Utah livestock men and min miners rs would sharply sharp y disagree disagree- with that statement statement t Regulation Necessary ry- ry Of course we must have some regulation of mining and grazing grazing grazing graz graz- ing and drilling for oil U. U We Ve cannot glue give iv anyone a fr free hand and to do as he wishes wit with our public lands That is why the existing controls were set up many years ago by the Forest Service the National Park system system system tem the Fish and arid Wildlife te SerVIce Service Service Ser Ser- vice and other other- government a- a These agencies operate operate operate oper oper- ate on the theory that T Our ur natural natural na na natural tural res resources should be used for th the greatest good of the greatest n number of or people not just for any ny one group Would Des Destroy ro Multiple U Use e This is known as ns the multi multiple pie pIc use doctrine which has been so important In the development development development devel devel- of or the West Vest This doctrine doctrine doctrine doc doc- trine will be a a. a t thing ipg of of th the past if the Wilderness Preservation bill is passed One Big lg National Park Of course It is recognized that there are aie some areas which must be protected completely from mining from grazing and similar development T r Ii h hose o 0 s e areas can be placed under the National Park System as parks or monuments under existing law there is no need to put all of our wilderness areas reas in indiscrIminately indiscriminately indiscriminately in- in in this category thereby freezing all development development development develop develop- ment at its present stage Yet this is exactly what this bill b i 11 would do It would almost have havethe havethe havethe the effect of making the Vestone West Vest Westone Westone one big National Park May Hold Hearings In West Vest WestI I understand that the Interior Committees of both houses are considering the possibility of holding hearings in uin the field after Congress adjourns If hearings are arc scheduled in Utah 1 I hope the people of the state will make their opposition to this measure known to the committee committee com com- in forceful terms The West Vest is now embarking on a new era of growth and development We Ve cannot afford to tu have this growth stymied by ill considered legislation passed in the name of conservation r |