ALASKA COAL-LEASING BILL. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON THE PUBLIC LANDS, The committee met at 10 o'clock a. m., Hon. Scott Ferris (chairinan) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen of the committee, we have before us this morning the bill (H. R. 13137) known as the Alaska coal-leasing bill. Pursuant to a conference had by the committee at the last meeting, we have invited Secretary Lane to appear and bring with him such representatives of the Geological Survey and other branches of the department as he thought would be helpful to us in arriving at a just conclusion about this bill. Unless there is objection, we will reserve a place in the record for the formal recommendation of the Secretary on this bill. (The recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior on said bill is as follows:) THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, MY DEAR MR. FERRIS: In response to your favor asking my opinion of the Alaska coal-leasing bill (H. R. 13137), I beg to reply that this bill has my hearty indorsement. Respectfully, FRANKLIN K. LANE. Hon. SCOTT FERRIS, Chairman Committee on the Public Lands, House of Representatives. STATEMENT OF HON. FRANKLIN K. LANE, SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. The CHAIRMAN. Just one word before the Secretary begins. Does any member of the committee feel sufficiently opposed to a leasing bill for Alaska to make it necessary for the Secretary to go into a general discussion of the question of leasing? If not, it seems to me that the greatest aid he can render us to-day would be to take up the bill section by section and explain it. Mr. FRENCH. Would it not be advisable to have a more extended statement on that subject, to help the committee on the floor of the House? The CHAIRMAN. I do not object to that at all. Mr. FRENCH. I think we could very properly have a general statement for use there. Mr. GRAHAM. Let me suggest that, inasmuch as the time we have at our disposal to-day is very short, it might be advisable to have that |