32141 HEARINGS H. R. 12233 and H. R. 13475 JANUARY 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, AND 25, 1923 CONTENTS. 112, 265 Carter, Hon. Charles D., representative in Congress from the State Clinnin, John V., Chicago, Ill., representing creditors of General Green, Hon. Henry D., representing the Mellish interests. Harrison, O. E., 504 Southern Building, Washington, D. C., represent- 147 Roote, Col. Jesse B., Butte, Mont., appearing in behalf of Burke Divide 102 EXHIBITS. Copy of H. R. 12233, introduced by Mr. Sinnott_. Copy of H. R. 13475, introduced by Mr. Sanders of Indiana___ Report on H. R. 11928, dated June 29, 1922, from Hon. Albert B. Fall, Letter of August 18, 1922, with reference to H. R. 12233_ Report on H. R. 13475, dated January 2, 1923, from Hon. Albert B. Fall, Decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, dated April 11, 1921__ Oil and Gas Permit, No. 3131 (Sam Sparks). Assignment of permit (Sam Sparks) Letter from Hon. Frank Dale, of Guthrie, Okla., dated January 18, 1923 Letter from W. W. Dyar, Special Assistant to the Attorney General_ Letter to J. A. Fain, United States Attorney, Oklahoma City, dated May 5, 1919, from F. J. Kearful, Assistant Attorney General. Memorandum by W. W. Dyar re Red River Oil Lands, dated November 470 OIL AND GAS LANDS, RED RIVER, OKLA. COMMITTEE ON THE PUBLIC LANDS, The committee this day met, Hon. Nicholas J. Sinnott (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen, the committee will come to order. This meeting was called this morning for hearings on the Red River oil controversy: I may say that there were four bills introduced in the House covering this controversy-H. R. 11659, by Mr. Oldfield. Mr. Oldfield notified me the other day that he did not care to push his bill. The second bill is H. R. 11928, introduced by Mr. Newton of Missouri, and I understand Mr. Newton is not pressing that bill. When I asked for a report on Mr. Newton's bill I received a letter from the Secretary of the Interior suggesting a substitute bill, which I introduced. That bill is H. R. 12233. Afterward Mr. Sanders, of Indiana, introduced H. R. 13475, and I assume that the two bills before the committee for consideration are the bills introduced by myself, at the request of the Secretary of the Interior, and the bill introduced by Mr. Sanders. However, I have no pride of authorship as to the bill which I introduced. I introduced it for the purpose of getting the matter before the committee, and inasmuch as different parties take a different attitude regarding these two bills, it seemed to me that these two bills should be kept before the committee. Without objection copies of these two bills bill be inserted in the record. (Said bills follow :) "[H. R. 12233, Sixty-seventh Congress, second session.] "A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to grant permits or leases to certain persons and corporations for lands and oil and gas deposits south of the medial line of the main channel of Red River, Oklahoma. "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to consider and adjust the equitable claims of any citizens or corporations of the United States to lands and oil and gas deposits situated south of the medial line of the main channel of Red River, Oklahoma, claimed or initiated prior to February 25, 1920, and upon or for which expenditures were made in good faith for the discovery or development of oil or gas, by issuance of permits or leases to those found equitably entitled. "SEC. 2. That permits or leases under th's act shall be made as nearly as practicable in twenty-acre units, and no person or corporation shall be entitled to a permit or lease for lands exceeding in the aggregate one hundred and sixty acres, including, so far as possible, with due regard for the rights and equities 1 |