The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-12-01

Washington. Nov. 30.-Gifford Pin
chot. chief of the United States forest
service. has again thrown down the
gauntlet to Secretary OF the Interior
Ballinger In regard to the conservation
policy, He declared that congress will
have to decide, at its coming session,
whether the great coal fields OF the
country shall continue TO remain in
the hands OF the people or be gobbled
up by monopolles. and whether great
water power sites shall be given away
to special interests or be controlled
by the people
Mr. Pinchot makes known his Views
upon these two chief sources of pow
or of the present and future" in a
letter to DR.. Lyman Abbott. of New
York. in response TO a series of ques-
tions asked by the latter on THE Ma
tional Conservation Policy
Referring to the development OF
water power and coal fields the gov
ernment forester declares that In most
cases actual development of the form
er can best be done by private inter.
ests acting under public control, but
that ut Is neither good sense nor
good morals TO let these valuable privi-
leges pass from the public ownership
for nothing forever
Against Special Privilege,
In answer to DR. Abott's question.
What is the danger to the conserva-
ton policies in the coming session OF
congress?" Mr. Pinchot declares
that IL is the privileges of the
few may continue TO obstruct the
rights OF the many. especially In the
matter of water and coal"
Congress must decide at this ses-
sion" Mr.. Pinchot says. whether the
great coal fields, still In public owner.
ship. shall remain so, In order that
their use may be controlled with due
regard TO the interest of the consumer,
or whether they shall pass into pri-
yate ownership and be controlled in
the monopolistic interests of a few.
Congress must decide also wheth-
er Immensely valuable rights to the
use OF water power shall be given
away to special interests in perpetu-
ity and without compensation, in
stead OF being held and controlled by
the public"
Great Danger to Industries.
"Why is it important to protect the
water powers?' asked DR.. Abbott and
in reply, Mr. Pinchot points out that
it is of 'the first Importance TO pre-
vent them from passing into private
ownership. as they have been. because
the great source Of power we know is
falling water
Under our form of civilization" he
says. '1f a few men ever succeed in
controlling the sources of power they
Mill oil In
| as we'll If they succeed in control
ling all industry they will necessarily
control the country"
Mr. Pinchot adds that he has mo
| reason why we should deliberately
keep on helping to fasten the hand
cuffs OF corporate control upon our
| selves for ali time merely because the
few men who would profit by it most
have heretofore had the power TO
compel it,"
One thing that must be done to pro-
! tect the water powers for the people
is stopping absolutely the granting OF
water powers forever. either on non
navigable or navigable streams, ac-
cordinG TO Mr. Pinchot. Water pow
ers must and should be developed by
private companies.
No Perpetual Rights.
He adds however. that neither pro-
| ri nor safety requires perpetual
rights. Mr. Pinchot declares further
that there is no reason whatever
why special interests should be al
loewd TO use them for profit without
making some direct payment TO the
people for the valuable rights derived
| from the people"
1T Is just as essential for the pub
| lie welfare that the people should re-
tain and exercise control of water pow
er monopoly on navlgoble as on nom
| nGvigable streams" Mr.. Pinchot
states in reply to tho question. Does
the same principle apply to navigable
streams as to non-navigable?
"If the difficulties are greater" he
concludes, then the danger that the