| Show UINTAH OPENING areil treil by secretary iniss win meet opposition washington Washing too dec 20 the bill prepared by secretary bliss blis for the opening of the uncompahgre lands will meet with strenuous opposition and it Is probable will not bo be reported to the senate at all senator cannon in speaking of the measure probably voices the sentiments of the committee lie ile says 1 I am opposed opp oscil to the bill on two grounds first it proposes to post postpone pone the 0 pening opening of the agricultural lands of the reservation reserva tion from april 1803 1898 to a year yea arlater later this is entirely unnecessary the department has already had ample time to prepare for the opening it has had nearly four years in in which bich to do this work and there 4 now no sound reason for further d ds lay second the proposed bill contemplates the leasing of the gilsonite gils lands under such regulations as the secretary of the interior may prescribe this is one of the schemes that we have been fighting from the beginning perhaps secretary bliss ulissis is not aware of the fact but there is an inchoate syndicate if not one thoroughly organized orga nixed ready to take up these lands under the lease system and form a great monopoly the gilsonite would then be of little value to the people of utah and would merely go to enrich speculators of new york vor i where the syndicate has its headquarters it is better to leave the law as it stands today providing for an early carly opening of the lands and leaving the gilsonite lands for further action by congress I 1 do not doubt that in t the lie next congress legislation can be had disposing of the mineral lands in the reservation |
