76TH CONGRESS 3d Session } SENATE { REPORT No. 1609 RELIEF OF CERTAIN SETTLERS IN TOWN SITE OF KETCHUM, IDAHO MAY 15 (legislative day, APRIL 24), 1940.-Ordered to be printed Mr. ADAMS, from the Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 1251] The Senate Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, to whom was referred the bill (S. 1251), for the relief of certain settlers in the town site of Ketchum, Idaho, having carefully considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill do pass. Facts concerning this proposed measure are set forth in the following report received from the Acting Secretary of the Interior under date of March 13, 1939, which report is herein below set forth in full and hereby made a part of this report. Hon. ALVA B. Adams, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Chairman, Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, United States Senate. MY DEAR SENATOR ADAMS: I have received your letter of February 14 transmitting for report S. 1251 for the relief of certain settlers in the town site of Ketchum, Idaho. While it is not the policy of this Department to recognize claims to public lands based solely on the payment of taxes illegally assessed against the property, the proposed legislation merely authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to afford relief to such persons and certain others when compatible with the public interests, and, therefore, I have no objection to the enactment of the bill. The town site of Ketchum was established in 1881 under the provisions of section 2382, United States Revised Statutes. There are approximately 800 lots in the town site, and patents have issued for about half of them. Declaratory statements were filed on more than half of the unpatented lots between the years 1881 and 1891. Section 2382, United States Revised Statutes, provides that any settler upon any one lot and upon any additional lot, on which he may have substantial improvements, may be entitled to prove up and purchase the same as a preemption at any time before the time fixed for a public sale. 8. Repts., 76-3, vol. 277 The unpatented lots have never been offered at public sale under sections 2382-2386, United States Revised Statutes. From a report of the Division of Investigations of this Department, approved November 30, 1937, it appears that there is only one lot in the town site in connection with which the occupant thereof may qualify as a preemptor under the section 2382 above mentioned; that there are 16 other lots occupied by parties who claim ownership through purchase or inheritance from predecessors in interest or who are the lessees of such claimants; and that about 280 lots are being claimed by reason of the payment of taxes assessed against the lots for 10 years or more. The Bureau of the Budget has advised that it has no objection to the submission of this report. Sincerely yours, E. K. BURLEW, Acting Secretary of the Interior. О MAY 15, (legislative day, April 24), 1940.—Ordered to be printed Mr. ADAMS, from the Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 769] The Senate Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, to whom was referred the bill (S. 769) authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to furnish mats for the reproduction in magazines and newspapers of photographs of national park scenery, having carefully considered the same, report favorably thereon with the following amendment and with the recommendation that the bill, as amended, do pass. Page 2, line 4, strike out the words "each fiscal year, beginning with", Page 2, line 5, strike out all of this line and insert the following: "June 30, 1941, the sum of $3,000 for the purpose". The report of the Secretary of the Interior concerning this bill is hereinbelow set forth in full and made a part of this report.. Hon. ALVA B. ADAMS, United States Senate. MY DEAR SENATOR ADAMS: Further reference is made to your request for a report on S. 769, entitled "A bill authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to furnish mats for the reproduction in magazines and newspapers of photographs of national-park scenery." Because of their superb scenery, excellent recreational facilities, and important educational features, the national parks and monuments are of constantly increasing interest to the public. There is wide demand for information concerning However, since funds for such purposes are limited, the National Park Service has found it necessary to rely largely upon newspapers and magazines to inform the public of the scenic, recreational, and educational features of the national parks and to encourage and promote their use. these areas. Perhaps the most effective medium for spreading this information and for stimulating travel to the national parks is provided by photographs, and this Department has available for reproduction many which are of unusual interest and appeal. But, although publishers of various periodicals often have expressed a desire to use these photographs to illustrate educational and informative articles, in most cases the cost of reproduction has been considered prohibitive. The proposed legislation would solve this problem by authorizing the furnishing of mats for the reproduction of photographs of national-park scenery. Similar service is now offered by other Government agencies. Since a single halftone cut would be sufficient to supply many periodicals, the cost to the Government of this service would be nominal. The publication of photographs of national-park scenery will stimulate travel to these areas; this in turn will increase the revenue derived by the collection of fees. This increased revenue, it is believed, would more than offset the comparatively small cost of furnishing the mat service. Furthermore, the benefits to the country as a whole accruing from such increased travel would be a marked contribution to our social and economic progress. The bill as now drafted limits the proposed mat service to national park scenery. As other areas included within the national park system contain interesting scenes and subjects, and as photographs of conservation activities of the Department of the Interior also are of general interest, it is suggested that the bill be amended as follows: Strike out the word "scenery" in the last line of the title and insert in lieu thereof the words "scenes and of conservation activities of the Department of the Interior." On page 1, lines 5 and 6, strike out the words "of the scenery" and insert in lieu thereof the word "scenes"; and on page 1, line 6, after the word "parks insert "and of such conservation activities of the Department of the Interior. On page 2, line 5, strike out "a sum not in excess of $5,000" and insert in lieu thereof "such sums as the Congress may determine." I have been advised by the Bureau of the Budget, however, that this proposed legislation would not be in accord with the program of the President. Sincerely yours, |