The Washington times., 1909-08-09
Sensation Sprung at Session
of National Irrigation
CnOgreSS.
SECRETARY PRESENT
TO DEFEND HIMSELF
Interests" Behind Him in Fight
With Water Users and
HOmeSeekerS.

SPOKANE, Wash, Aug. "a sensa-
tional resolution, demanding that Sec
rotary Of the Interior Leonard A Bal
linger explain his exact attitude toward
the United States Reclamation Service
and answer CHARGES that he is inclined
70 turn over that branch Of the Gov
eminent service TO professional poll
ticians, promises to make a historical
session OF the National Irrigation Con-
gress which convenes here today.
The presence of Secretary Bauinger
who is expected 10 take the rostrum and
defend himself, has added 10 the intense
interest manifested in the congress.
Chief Forester Pinchot also is here
and viii have something to say about
land laws ana their administration by
technical lawyers.
Ballinger and Pinchot are not friendly.
Since Ballinger took charge Of the De-
partment Of the Interior the Forest Ser
vice, which is Under the Department Of
Agriculture, and the Interior Depart
ment have not worked in harmony
Threw Down Gauntlet.
a few weeks ago BaIlinger openly
threw down the gauntlet to PinchOt. in
an interview charging that the chief
forester was trying to run the Inter
ior Department"
The annual sessions of the National
Irrigation Congress have been repeat
edly marked by attacks on the Secre-
tary OF the Interior. Heretofore these
attacks have always been made by the
monopollstic interests. They hated Sec
rotary Garfield and claimed that his
policies prevented the development of
the West. On the side of the Secretary
of the Interior rad always been lined
up the small rar ehers, the water users,
and the men 10 COLOMBO the various
Government irrigation projects.
This year the situation is reversed.
The Secretary Of the Interior is on the
defensive as usual, but this time ii is
the water users and the homeseekers
who are the aggressors, and the inter
ests' that are behind BallingeT.
Substance Of Charges.
The substance Of the charge the water
users make against Bauinger is that
he has overturned the spirit of the
Roosevelt policies pertaining to conser-
walton and reclamation.
BaIlinger also will be asked to explain
the Grand Valley Colorado transaction.
The Government had entered into con
tracts with the settlers whereby the lat
ter were 10 construct a part of the ir-
rigation bitches and receive "co-opera-
tive" certificates. giving them rights I'M
der the Grand Valley project. BalIinger
asked the Attorney General if these
contracts were not illegal. and Wicker
sham replied that they were. The con-
tracts were Cancelled.
Some arrangements probably will be
made for the protection Of the settlers
under these contracts Meanwhile. the
= r.r
interests have been circulating among
the settlers telling them that their GER
tificates are Illegal. and Offering TO buy
them for next TO nothing.
One Of the most peculiar features of
this Grand Valley matter is that two
United States Senators knew that At
tOrney General Wickersham would de-
clare the certificates Illegal two weeks
before his decision was made public
Ballinger viii be asked what interests
these two had in that decision above
the interests of the Grand Valley SET
tiers