New-York tribune., 1909-04-29
TO URGE CONSERVATION
MR. TAFT ON RESOURCES.
Farors Reserring Po70er Sites, but
Wants Legal authority Therefor.
From The Tribune Bureau.l


Washington April 28-The President is in thor
ough accord with the policy Of his predecessor on
the conservation of natural resources-so strongly
so that he purposes to incorporate in his first an
nua! message 10 Congress a forceful recommenda-
ton of legislation which will make it possible for
the administration do far more In that direction
than It has been able to accomplish III the past.
To those who have given due Iced to the express
sions of President Taft the assertion that he Is
sincere and ardent advocate of the conservation
policy might seem almost trite. but certain super
fetal observers mised by the careful ana deIo-
crate methods of the present administrator nave
asserted that the President is not sincerely In SYM
pathv with the conservation Of the natural re-
sources, and especially with the preservation OF
those natural power sites which. during the last
few years have been rapidly passing INTO pri
vate ownership and in too many instances uiuei
the control of large corporations, whose abundant
capital enables them TO procure title almost ds sooH
as it passes TO private hands
President Taft is wholly unwilling that the Ia"
shall be strained that the members Oh MS au
ministration shall exceed their constitutional anu
statutory powers In the effort to prevent the mo
nopozation of water power sites lie mas eA-
pressed himself energeticaly in opposition TO the
proposition that the end justifies the means a"1
in the process of making certain that no hAetuliNe
act shall be open TO the charge OF oells "i'Hou'
legal warrant number of these sites VIII lneVlta-
bI, he thrown omen TO settlement under the existing
land laws 1t is this consistent determination u
act solely within the law which has gwen 'ise -
he impression that the administration Is hoSIile u
The conservation policy.
The Secretary of the Interior has. hoWeNeI' Just
issued instructions to the director of the GeooSlcdl
Survey to make careful and comprehehsiHe III
vestigation of power sites under the PUBIC uo
main outside of natural forests. with vie" "
securing at the session of Congress leglsd'ol
to control and regulate their disposition
The Secretary of the Interior is extremely So
ucitous to prevent these natural resources iloli
passing under the control of monopohsuc oI s~peou -
lattve interests. and to secure the deNeop"'e"' an"
utilization Of such resources in such manner as VII
ree,,It IN the greatest benefit to the public said
Secretary Ballinger to-day.
Practically ever since the advent ot d'e az ~
ninistration an investigation of the oroauer que'
tions involved In the administration OF thls Pol'1s
has been in progress, and it has beeh lo'iu '
tho Geological Survey has both funds and men
which may be legally devoted 10 such held ll'eS''
CATION as the situation demands Inc rie9u'''
has indicated his purpose to lay the exact A'''a
before Congress. and 10 urge the enactment VI
legislation as may be required properly tc conserve
these resources The President believes. as DO ms
advisers that those who have the conservation ol
the natural resources sincerely at heart cannot
better expend their energy than in bringing 10 pear
on Congress that pressure which is certain TO De
needed 70 offset the influence of powerful interests
which see In the proposed legislation an insupeT-
able obstacle their plans for the monoPohzaIol
especially Of natural power sites
President Taft is convinced that ultimately no
good can come from the exercise OF eXtra-executlVe
power where legal authority is lacking. ana ms
views are cordially shared by the Secretary or the
Interior II Will. therefore, be wholly useIess 10
urge upon the administration the advisaohi'y OF
exceeding that power delegated to IT by the Con-
stitution and by Congress because OF the i'm
portance OF the public interests involved So hrmly
is the President convinced that such excesses must
inevitably work evil in the future. and so loyal Is
he to the Constitution and the law. that nothing
viii be gained ty bringing pressure TO bear directly
on him while much may be gained by exertng the
proper pressure on Congress induce It TO clothe
the Executive with that authority needed by him to
conserve the public interests.
Aside from his repuEnance TO exceeding his
proper authority the President is convinced that
such course would only develop weakness in the
administration. and that ultimately the courts
would overthrow the results achieved by the exer-
else of power conferred on the Executive BY
neither the Constitution nor the laws.