58th Congeess, [ SENATE. J Document 



3d Session. \ 1 No. 154. 



PUBLIC LANDS COMMISSION. 



MESSAGE 



FROM THE 



PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 



SUBMITTING 



THE SECOND PARTIAL BEPOBT OF THE PUBLIC LANDS COMMIS- 

 SION, APPOINTED OCTOBEE, 22, 1903, TO BEPORT UPON THE 

 CONDITION, OPERATION, AND EFFECT OP THE PRESENT LAND 

 LAWS. 



February 13, 1905. — Read; referred to the Committee on Public Lands and 



ordered to be printed. 



To the Senate and House of Representatives : 



I submit herewith the second partial report of the Public Lands 

 Commission, appointed by me October 22, 1903, to report upon the 

 condition, operation, and effect of the present land laws and to rec- 

 ommend such changes as are needed to effect the largest practical dis- 

 position of the public lands to actual settlers who will build homes - 

 upon them and to secure in permanence the fullest and most effective 

 use of the resources of the public lands. The subject is one of such 

 magnitude and importance that I have concluded to submit this sec- 

 ond partial report bearing upon some of the larger features which 

 require immediate attention without waiting for the final statement 

 of the Commission, which, from the very nature of the case, it has 

 not been possible to complete at this time. I am in full sympathy 

 with the general conclusions of the Commission in substance and in 

 essence, and I commend its recommendations to your earnest and 

 favorable consideration. The existing conditions, as set forth in this 

 report, seem to require a radical revision of most of the laws affecting 

 the public domain, if we are to secure the best possible use of the 

 remaining public lands by actual home makers. 



Theodore Roosevelt. 



The White House, February 13, 1905. 



