VOL. XLVI.-XO. 14,361.
PORTLAND. OREGON, TUESDAY. DECEMBER 18, 1906.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
ELECTRIC III
TO
Will Ask Company For
Advance in Wages.
WALKOUT TO FOLLOW REFUSAL
Men Believe They Can Tie Up
the Power and Lighting
System.
MEETING IS ENTHUSIASTIC
w Wage Schedule Formulated
Which Must Be Itererred to Sa
lem Union Definite Action
to Be Taken Tonight.
STRIKE SITUATION TODAY.
Crisis In strike will corns tonight
with first attempt of company to run
cam after nightfall since Saturday.
Electrical workers prepare for sym
pathetic strike. . '
Pickets fall in attempt to prevent
cars being run yesterday.
Two switches jammed, causing de
railment, and few windows broken by
strike sympathizers yesterday.
Citizens' Alliance comes to support
of streetcar company.
Movement for arbitration to set
tle strike Is a failure.
Stopping of cars at dark last night
causes discomfort to thousands of
working people.
Car will be started from the barns;
on all lines at 7 A. M. and run as
usual during the day Whether they
will run In the evening; will depend
on developments during the day and
whether or not it Is safe for the ear
men to run. General Manager Fuller
Electric linemen employed by the Port
land Railway, Light & Power Company
took the first steps leading to a sym
pathetic strike last night. If the Salem
uWon will subscribe to the demands for
a new wage schedule an ultimatum will
be presented to the company. If the
company rejects the demands, the line
men say, they will strike.
About 40 linemen are employed by the
company and nine-tenths of them are
members of the -union. The linemen be
lieve they hold the key to the situation
and that If they strike at this time when
the carmen are out, the company will
be powerless t operate its cars. The
electric lighting system may also seri
ously suffer. A complete tie-up is pre
dicted if the linemen and the company
fall to come to terms.
Last night the members of the local
union .of electrical workers, to which the
linemen belong, held a lengthy meeting
at Drew hall, when a committee was
appointed to draft a new wage schedule
which will be submitted to the company.
Another meeting will be held tonight,
which will be attended by the linemen
who are employed . by the electric and
power system at Salem, which is owned
by the Portland Railway, Light & Power
Company.
Owing to certain rules which govern
the actions of the local unions no defi
nite action can be taken until the line
men at Salem who are employed by the
same Interests have an opportunity to
have a voice in the proceedings. To
night they will have this opportunity,
but it Is understood that those who favor
a readjustment of the wage scale are
In the majority and that they can con
trol the meeting the same as they did
last night. Before a strike can be de
clared the consent of certain officials and
executive bodies of the International union
has to be secured, but this can all be
done by telegraph, and It Is believed
that It can be accomplished within a
few hours. The higher officials have been
closely following the situation and have
been kept informed of all the develop
ments, and it Is understood that they
will sanction any action that the Port
land local may take. ' If the linemen go
out it. will probably be either Wednes
day of Thursday.
Carmen Think Battle All but Won.
The carmen are Jubilant over what they
term splendid prospects of a sympathetic
strike being declared by the linemen, and
believe that the battle is all but won.
Last night a committee from the linemen
conferred with the union carmen, who
were holding a meeting In the same
.building.
The meeting of the linemen which
was open only to those who belonged to
the union was wildly demonstrative.
Vigorous and enthusiastic speeches were
made, the speakers pleading with the
men to accept this opportunity to demand
of the company what they believe to be
their Just deserts. All the speakers were
loudly applauded. The meeting began
at 9 o'clock and did not break up until
12:30 o'clock this morning.
. Most of the linemen are employed by
the company to do repair work. If they
walk out on a strike the linemen declare
that it will be impossible for the com
pany to fill their places at any Immediate
date, and that within a few days the en
tire system would be in a complete state
of demoralization.
The electrical workers employed -by the
company have two different unions. The
linemen belong to one and those who
work indoors belong to another, and they
have no connection. The Inside workers
have taken no action whatsoever, and it
IKE DEMANDS
Is not known how they regard the situ
ation.. -
Crisis Will Be Reached Tonight.
The crisis in the streetcar situation
will probably be reached tonight, when
it is expected the Portland Railway
Company and the Oregon Water Power
& Railway Company will attempt to
run cars after nightfall. The question
will be whether; the authorities can
protect the cars, and the men running
them. If cars can be run tonight, the
company will consider that the back
bone of the strike has been broken.
Fair service was maintained on all
the city lines yesterday, but at dark
the cars were run to the barns, ths
company fearing a recurrence of the
riot scenes of Saturday night. Cars
will resume at daylight this morning.
The union tailed in its efforts to pre
vent cars from leaving the barns yes
terday morning.
Attempt at Arbitration Falls.
Arbitration has apparently failed to
end the strike. A committee headed by
Dan McAllen and W. P. Olds sought
to effect a peaceable settlement in this
manner and the union committee
agreed to adjust its differences with
the company by this means. However,
recognition of a union committee is
something the company will not con
cede. The Portland Railway Company
feels It has no communication before
it from Its, carmen, and no request
which has not been considered and an
swered, arid officials think there can.
therefore, be nothing to arbitrate.
'A rumor gained circulation yesterday
afternoon that the strike Tiad been
called off. From unusually reliable
authority it was learned that the exec
utive committee. In session yesterday
morning, after the unsuccessful at
tempt of the union pickets to prevent
cars leaving the barns, voted to call
the strike off. It was reported that
both President Sorenson and Secretary
McKenney, of the union, voted to end
the trouble, but their action would, not
be sanctioned by the general strike
committee, made up of members of the
Federated Trades Council.
This was hotly denied by Secretary
McKenney last night, who branded the
whole story as false. He said it was
the attempt of the opposition to dis
credit the strikers.
There was but little Interference
with the cars yesterday, although men
at work on them were hooted along the
streets by strike sympathizers.
Carmen Hold Secret Meeting.
Nearly 300 carmen attended a secret
meeting held last night at 10 oclock In the
Drew building. "No compromise" was the
battle cry at the session and the leaders
and all the men now say they will not
give in on ' any of the points for which
they are-fighting.
The officers of the union say that by
actual count 275 carmen attended' the
meeting, and It is believed that their esti
mate ls about correct. Another meeting
will be held at 10 o'clock this morning and
the strike leaders say that It will be at
tended by at least another 100 carmen.
President 0orenson denied from the plat
form the report that he had advised sev
eral of the strikers on the O. W. P. lines
to return to work If they could obtain
their old positions back.
The speakers all declared . themselves
against making any compromise If nego.
tlations are opened with the company and
their remarks on this score were received
with the wildest enthusiasm on the part
of the assemblage.
The rules of the union provide for arbi
tration at all times. The carmen are will
ing to leave the settlement of the strike
in .the hands of any body . composed of
fair and Impartial citizens and whatever
decision they would arrive at would be
accepted. But If they have to deal -directly
with the company they declare they
will not compromise on anything.
Kair Service Maintained.
Regular -schedules were, operated on the
Piedmont and O. W. P. divisions of the
Portland Railway, Light & Power Com
pany yesterday. On the East Ankeny and
Savler street divisions, about 60 per cent
of the usual number of cars were in com
mission. Many cars on all lines carried
double crews. Qood service was given all
day, but the care were ordered to the
barn at 5 o'clock on all lines' except the
O. W. P. division to avoid possible con
flict with mobs.
Rocks were thrown yesterday at differ
ent points throughout the city. Windows
were broken In about a dozen cars from
the Piedmont barn, and ' carmen were
dared to come back on the streets after
dark with their cars and see what would
happen. Rock throwing was confined to
euburbs where the police were not In
sight Men In charge of the Piedmont
barn say that, despite the possible dan
ger to men running cars, not over 6 per
cent of the men reporting at that barn
are unwilling to work. Many of the men
express unwillingness to expose them
selves to possible danger, but say that as
soon as they are given protection they
will go back to work.
Two switches were Jammed by strike
sympathizers yesterday,, one of which
caused a wreck of a merchants' express
(Ooncluded on Pa tee 4.)
One result of walk lug.
Facial
owner
PROMISE RELIEF
WITHIN
HI
Railroads Will 'Raise
Fuel Famine.
REBUKED BY COMMISSION
Asked Why Freight Trains
Move Like Ox-Teams.
HOT BOXES GET THE BLAME
Presidents of Roads in Northwest
Tell Commission Scarcity of Lo
comotives, Inadequate Termi
nals, Etc., Cause Shortage.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Dec. 17. The
fuel famine In the Northwest will be
broken within 24 hours as a result of
the Interstate Commerce Commission's
Inquiry In this city today. The com
mission was represented by James S.
Harlan, of Chicago, and Franklin K.
Lane, of San Francisco. Mr. Lane Is
taking personal charge of the fuel in
quiry, while Mr. Harlan is busily en
gaged In the car shortage inquiry. It
was decided that the fuel famine was
the more important, there being al
ready many reports at hand of the
suffering.
Relief Within One Day.
Mr. Lane questioned E. C. Blanchard,
division superintendent of the 'North
ern Pacific at Duluth, and D. M.
Philbln, assistant general agent for the
Great Northern road at Duluth, today.
Before Mr. Lane "had finished his ex
amination both witnesses had promised
that relief would be forthcoming with
in the next 24 hours, and orders have
been given to rush coal to the suffer
ing towns, all other traffic being made
secondary until supplies shall have
been furnished.
The secretary of the Minneapolis
Chamber of Commerce submitted a
statement showing that the movement
of the crop this year had fallen off
many millions of bushels,"lcompared
with previous years.
Why Are Cars So Slow?
It puzzled the attorneys and mem
bers of the commission at the after
noon session why It took a freight car
on the average about 13 days to make
a trip that could be made at a 10-nitle
rate in 25 hours.
Mr. Blanchard. by whose testimony
the situation was brought out, ex
plained it by stating that hot boxes
frequently delayed the progress of a
car, and that various causes contribut
ed to the delay of the car in transit.
According to his testimony it would
not be uncommon for a freight car to
move from point to point at the rate
of not less than a half mile an hour.
He stated that there was an Increase
in shipments of every commodity
grain and lumber from the Coast, mer
chandise, coke, coal and wood products.
All Year to Get Ready. ,
Mr. Lane asked the witness for how.
long a period it took so long a time
as from 10 to 13 days to move a freight
car 250 miles, and he was told that the
conditions were most unfavorable to
speed during September, October and
November.
"And you know ahout this every
year, don't you7" asked Mr. Lane.
"Yea, we expect It," was the reply.
"You have nine months to prepare
for It?" stated the commissioner.
"Yes, we try to do ohr best," was
the answer.
APPEAL TO .r-riblSLATXRKS.
Each Northwestern State. Will Act
on Fuel Famine.
MINNEAPOLIS. Minn., Dec. 17. Inves
tigation of the present fuel famine crisis
in the Northwest may not stop with the
Investigation of the Interstate Commerce
Commssion now on In Minneapolis. It
Is probable that In every affected state,
notably Minnesota. North Dakota and
Montana, the subject will be made a
HUMORS OF THE STREETCAR STRIKE, AS SEEN BY
expression of the
of automobile.
Golnjr home at night, pre
pared for fog, footpads,
and obstructed streets.
matter of legislative Investigation. North
western coal dealers have indicated to
the large shippers here that they plan
to stir up official investigation In their
states. Towns that are- suffering now
or have been held in the grasp of Win
ter and the famine are laying their cases
before their legislators and asking that
the subject be brought up at the coming
sessions of the State ' Legislatures and
action taken to prevent a repetition.
The race Is on between the railroads
and the cold. If the weather wins, cut
ting down the' efficiency of motive pow
er and bringing on heavy blizzards, there
will be suffering and loss of life. But
reports today indicate that the rail
roads are rushing fuel Into the districts
where there is actual want or where
stocks are low. The Great Northern
Is taking no full carloads west of Grand
Forks other than fuel. The Northern
Pacific has sent out 300 cars of fuel for
commercial use In the last two days. At
the storage docks at the head of the.
t v - - y t
F. P. Shouts, Whose Work on Panama
Canal Wlos President Approval.
lakes the dock companies are ordered
to load as far as possible for commercial
use. According to the Great Northern
officials, the coal shortage at' Great
Northern points In North Dakota will be
a thing of the past In a very few days.
From Mlnot, N. D.. reports say that
in some portions of the county farmers
are tearing up their fences and using
them for fuel.
PRESIDENT'S EYE ON RAILROAD
Suggestion That Government Oper
ate Railroads In Emergencies.
WASHINGTON Dec. 17. President
Roosevelt is taking a deep interest In the
situation aa to car shortage, complaints
regarding which have come from many
sections of the United States. Some time
ago a partial statement bearing on the
car shortage was submitted to the Presi
dent by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission and, when the more complete
report, which the commission has under
way in the Northwest, has been pre
pared. It will be sent to the President
for his information in the event he de
cides to make any recommendations to
Congress on the subject. He has not yet
taken any steps Indicating his probable
course.
Among suggestions that have been
made to the President Is that he recom
mend legislation by Congress empowering
the Government to take charge of rail
roads and operate them under certain
contingencies, especially In a case like
the present, where the shortage of cars
affects the transportation of fuel and
necessities of life. This proposition, how
ever, It is stated at the White House,
has never been even remotely considered
by the President.
CAUSES OF CAR SHORTAGE
Lack of Locomotives and Deficient
Terminal Facilities.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17. Three morja
responses have come to the interstate
Commerce Commission from North
western .railways in response to Chair
man Knapp's telegram of last week
calling attention to the reported short
age In cars and the complaints of "a
lack of transportation for the neces
sities of life and of fuel.. The telegram
was sent to the presidents of six of
the great Western and Northwestern
roads, and replies have now been re
ceived from all of them. From infor
mation conveyed by the railroad com
panies today, the Commissioners ex
press the opinion that one cause of
the shortage in' fuel Is that the deal
ers have not stored up In advance suf
ficient quantities for the Winter's sup
ply, but have, as stated in the reply
(Concluded on Pace 2.)
"Haven't X got as morh
right to eat tenderloin
steak a the president of
the road?" ,
Tough
cop.
PEOPLE'S
MONEY
LENT POLITICIANS
Another Million Gone
in Pennsylvania.
WAYNESBURG IN DEEP SORROW
Rinehart Good to "the Boys"
With Others' Cash.
OTHER BANKS ALSO LOSE
Whole Population Trusts Him, While
He Discounts Xoies of Political
Friends Rinehart Arrested
and Others Suspected.
PITTSBURG. Dec. 1". The wreck of
the Farmers & Drovers' National Bank
of Waynesburg, Pa., tonight appears
to have been much more complete than
It at first seemed. It Is apparent that
the hungry politicians of Pennsylva
nla have once more got in their work,
as on the recent ill-fated Enterprise
National Bank of Allegheny. Instead
of falling for a few thousands, as at
first reported, it comes out today that
the Waynesburg bank was short about
$1,000,00 when Its doors closed.
This afternoon late, warrants were
served on Cashier J. B. F. Rinehart of
the crippled bank. He is charged with
having made false reports to the Comp
troller of the Currency regarding his
bank, thereby showing It to be about
$1,000,000 richer than it really was.
Rinehart, who Is also vice-president of
the bank and Its owner, having S22 of
the 1000 shares, at once gave $10,050
ball for a hearing at court and waived
a hearing before the United States au
thorities. Many Notes From Politicians.
It is believed that investigation will
show up much of a sensational nature.
Examiner Cunningham is still at work
in the bank at Waynesburg, and after
a talk with him by phone this evening,
Uniierf States District Attorney Dun
kle wired the Department of Justice
at Washington asking that a man be
detailed at once to work on the crim
inal end of the business. This leads
to the belief that there are other ar
rests of a sensational nature to fol
low. According to an authentic, yet not
official, source tonight, it Is learned
that at least 60 banking Institutions
In Pittsburg and Western Pennsylva
nia, as well as one or two in Chicago,
had a bit of the. flood of politicians'
paper, which the Waynesburg bank
had re-discounted recently. The name
of none of the banks supposed to have
been nipped his been made public, but
It is well understood that the $000,010
In politicians' paper was well scat
tered. Rinehart in his statement ' to
the Comptroller of the Currency gave
the figures on re-diecounted paper as
$80,000, which. If true, would have
shown the bank to be in the best of
shape; but this wa untrue, and the
real amount was $520,300 more.
Rinehart Has Strong Pull.
Every effort is being made to keep
details of this paper from the public,
and that Rinehart has some very
strong men behind him was shown
when he came to Pittsburg last night
registered at a downtown hotel and
remained there most of today, while
no effort was made to serve the war
rant on him by the Federal authorities.
Rinehart spent a very busy day, and.
when be got ready to be caught, he
telephoned to the United States Dep
uty Marshal to come and read the, war
rant to him: also to come prepared to
accept lila bail bond of $10,000, which
had already been made out. After
giving ball, Rinehart disappeared.
SAD CHRISTMAS APPROACHES
Business Almost Suspended by Fa 11-
, nre Rinehart Good for Loss.
WAYNESBURG. Pa., Dec. 17. With
the closing of the Farmers' & Drovers
CARTOONIST MURPHY
somnolent
That overworked yarn
abont "being at the
club" can lay off for
awhile.
National Bank last Wednesday, the ar
rest at Pittsburg today of Cashier J. F.
B. Rinehart. charged wltn making false
reports to the comptroller of the cur
rency, and the discovery of an alleged
discrepancy amounting to J&A000. busi
ness in this city is almost at a stand
still. Many merchants sold scarcely a
dollar's worth of goods today, and some
contemplate closing their stores until the
bank difficulty has been adjusted.
Hundreds of men, women and children
In Waynesburg and the surrounding re
gion have their money deposited in the
Farmers' & Drovers' Bank, and as a re
sult, of their Inability to get at their
savings the holiday season promises to
be a sorry one. It Is feared that a short
age of cash will cause further business
depression.
It was announced tonight there was no
reason for depositors to be alarmed,
as Rinehart's personal assets were suffi
cient to cover any amount that might
have to be made good. It is estimated
here that he Is worth considerably more
than $1,000,000.
BISHOP M'CABE'IN SHADOW
Venerable Prelate of Methodist
Church May Die Any Minute.
NEW YORK. Dec. 18. At 11:30 last
night Dr. Peabody, the attending physi
cian, said that Bishop C. C. McCabe. of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, was
extremely low and likely to die at
any moment.
Late last night he was unconscious.
Last Tuesday the bishop was stricken
with apoplexy while passing through
this city on his way to his home In
Philadelphia and was removed to the
hospital. He Is 70 years of age.
Declare Against a World's Fair.
LOS ANGELES. Dec. 17. A special
committee of 25. representing the Mer
chants' and Manufactures' Association,
Chamber of Commerce and the Los An
geles Clearln"Houe Association, today
agreed upon a recommendation to the
effect that It would be undesirable and
Inexpedient to promote the project of a
world's fair in 1915. Members of the com
mittee argued that the reaction follow
ing such an exposition would overbalance
the benefit received.
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 49
degrees; minimum, -40.
TODAY'S Ratn; southerly winds.
Foreign.
French bishop who compiled with law to
be repudiated by Vatican. Page 4.
' National.
President ttoosevelt sends mesnage recom
mending reform of land laws. Page 1.
President reports on Panama canal trip.
Page 4.
Reform in naval promotion recommended by
President. Page 8.
House debates Indian bill. Page 8.
Humphrey gies Roosevelt arguments for
ship subsidy. Page 3.
Japanese Amhansador tH-f I r m--Ja p--vn' .warm
friendship for United Spates. Page 8.
lHimestlc.
Railrbads promise Immediate relief from
conl famine and all make excuses.
Page 3.
Waynesburg bank fnllure causes one arrest
and Involves many Pennsylvania politi
cians. Page 1.
Chancellor Day takes up cudgels for trusts.
Page 3.
Lumber vessel's perilous voyage around the
Horn. Page 2.
Direct evidence of poisoning against Chi
cago hypnotist. Page 2.
Strothers telfs why By waters was killed.
Page 3.
Pacific Coast.
Rudolph Bpreckels on witne-m fftand tells of
infamous1 proposal made to him by Ruef.
Page 4.
Million bushels of wheat rota on Northern Pa
cific platform In Central Washington,
while sidings axe crowded with empty cars.
Page 6.
Widow of the murdered Ju1re EJinory take
stand at trial of Chester Thompson. Page
e.
Spokane's threat eon-corning fair appropriation
does sot alarm Seattle. Page 11.
Eccentric German farmer Uvea like hermit
for nearly quarter of a century. Page 6.
Commercial and Marine.
Livestock market glutted with poor cattle.
Page 15.
Coeur d'Alene stocks stronger. Page 15.
Belllnjj weakens New York stock market.
Page 15.
Increase In visible wheat supply. Page 15.
Bark Prussia believed to have been wrecked
by storm at sea. Page 14.
Hamburg-American liner Victoria Louise
ashore on Jamaica. Page 14.
Portland and Vicinity.
Klectrlc linemen vote to demand higher
wages, with strike as alternative. Page 1.
Crisis In streetcar strike situation will
come with attempt to operate cars after
darkness tonight. Page 1.
John Barrett guest of honor at banquet
at Commercial Club. Page 4.
Quarter block at southwest corner of Fifth
and Washington streets, occupied by de
partment store of Olds, Wortman &
King, sold for $350,000. Page 7.
Trial of B. F. Boynton, charged with per
jury In connection with Sellwood election
frauds, begun. Page 14.
Hodson men deny Haines hes 12 votes
pledged for Presidency of State Senate.
Page 7.
And be can't put It in the
slot-machine either.
!
LID LIS NEED
DRASTIC
REFORM
President Condemns
Without Mercy.
PROVISIONS TEMPT TO FRAUD
Monopoly Fostered in Coal,
Timber and Farming.
GRAZING LAWS DEFECTIVE
Special Message Points Out Man?
Vicious Provisions and Warns
Congress Lawbreakers Will
Be Prosecuted.
WASHINGTON", Dec. 17. Three mes
sages from the President were re
ceived by Congress today, and their
reading took practically all the time
of the Senate. The reading was de
layed in the House by the fact that
it was suspension day. The messaged
were In relation to the public land
laws and the naval personnel bill and
on account of the President's visit
to Panama, The latter message at
tracted great interest because it was
elaborately Illustrated, showing the
work on the great waterway in its
various stages. It was in the form oC
a story of the President's visit. As It
was read the Senators followed it
closely from handsomely bound copies
Which had been laid upon their desks.
The message on the public land lawa
read as follows: 4
The development of the ifast year empha
size with Increasing force the need of vigor
ous and immediate action to recast the pub
lic land laws and adapt them to the actual
Fltuation. The timber and stone act has
demonstrated conclusl vely that its effect 1
to turn over the public timber lands to
great corporations. It hen done enormous
harm. It Is no longer needed, and it should
be repealed.
The desert land act results so frequently
In fraud and comparatively seldom In nink
lng home on the lend that It demands radl-
cal amendment!). That provision which per
mits assignment before patent should bo
repealed Bnd the entry man should be re
quired to live for not les than two year
at home on th-er Jemd -tT-efrf-rt ratnnt issue.
Otherwise the desert land law will continue
to assist speculators and other large holders
to get control of land and water on th-s
public domain by Indefensible means.
Repeal Commutation Clause.
The commutation clause of the homestead
act serves, in a majority of cases, to defeat
the purpose of the homestead act itself,
which Is to facilitate settlement and create)
homes. In theory the commutation clause
should assist the honest settler, and doubt
less in some cases ft does so. Far more often
It supplies the means by which speculators
and loan and mortgage companies Recurs
possession of the land. Actual, not con
structive, living at home on the land for
three years should be required before com
mutation, unless It should appear wiser to
repeal the commutation clause altogether
These matters are more fully discussed III
the report of the Public Lands Commission,
to which I again call your attention. I am,
gravely concerned at the extremely unsatis
factory condition Qf the public land laws,
and at the prevalence of fraud under their
present provisions. For much of this fraud,
the present laws are chletiy responsible.
There Is hut one way by which the fraudu
lent acquisition of these lands can be defi
nitely stopped, and therefore I have directed
the Secretary of the Interior to allow no
patent to be Issued to public lands under
any law until by an examination on th
ground actual compliance with that law
has been found to exist. For this purpose
an Increase of special agents In the I -and
Office Is urgently required. Unless, they
are given, bona fide, would -be -settlers will
be put to grave Inconvenience, pr else the
fraud will in large part go on.
Amend Coal Land Law.
Further, the , Secretary of the Interio
should be enabled to employ enough mining
experts to examine the validity of all min
eral land claims and to undertake th
supervision and control of the use of the
mineral fuels still belonging to the United
States. The present coal laws limiting the
Individual entry to 160 acres puts a premiums
on fraud by making It Impossible to develop
certain coal fields and yet comply with th
law. It Is a scandal to maintain laws which,
sound well but make fraud the
key without which grat ' natural
resources must remain cloit. The"
law should give individuals and corpor
ations, "under proper Government regulation
and control (the details of which I shall not
at present discuss), the right to work bodies
of coal land large enough for profitable de
velopment, own belief Is that there
should be provision for leasing coaJ, oil and
gas rights under proper rentrictions. t
the additional force of special agents and
mining experts I recommend Is provided and
well used, the result will be not only to
stop land frauds, but prevent delays la
patenting claims and conserve the indis
pensable fuel resources of the Nation.
ReviH Rfght-of-Way Laws.
Many of the existing laws effecting rights)
of way and prevlllxcs on public lands and
reservations are Illogical and unfair. Some
work Injustice by granting valuable rights tnj
perpetuity without return. Others tend to pro
tect the grantee In his possession of permanent
Improvement made at large expense. In fair
ness to the Government, to the holders of
rights and privilege! on the public lands and
to the people whom the latter serve, I urge
the revision and enactment of these laws la
one comprehensive act, providing that the reg
ulations and the charges now In force In many
case may be extended to all, t the end that
unregulated or monopolistic control of great
natural resources may not be acquired or mis
used for private ends.
Exchange Land With Railroads.
The boundaries of the National forest re
serve. unavoidably Include certain valuable
timber lands not owned by the Government.
Important among them are the iand grants of
various railroads.
For more than two years negotiations with
the land grantees have been In progrees, look
ing toward an arrangement by which the for
est on railroad lands within National forest
reserves may be preserved by the removal o
the present crop of timber under rules pre
scribed by the Forest Service and its perpetu
ation may be assured by the transfer of ths
land to the Government without cost. The
advantage of such an arrangement to the Gov
ernment lies in the acquisition of lands whosa
protection Is necessary to the general welfare.
Tbe advantage to the railroads Is found la
the proposal to allow them to consolidate thetc
Concluded on Pave 3.).