The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1909-12-02
BALlNGER REPORTS
SECRETARY on THE INTERIOR
TELLS or WORK or Hla
DEPARTMENT.
STILL AFTER LAND THIEVES
Urges centinsstlen Of Vigorous Proso
eution ard a aeelssslfestlon Of the
Public Domain-issuanee Of Rsela-
nation Fund Bonds Advlsea-Ths
indian Bureau.

indian Bureau.
Washington. Nov. 2s.-The annual
report 20 the president OF Richard A.
Ballinger. secretary Of the interior.
was made public to-day and makes in
~teresting reading. The report covers
a portion Of the time under the ad-
ministFation Of James r. Garfield, and
Mr.. Baliinger gives him credit for HIS
earnest and efficient services.
Secretary Bailinger comments on
the old public land statutes, and con
tinues.
The liberal and rapid disposition Of
the public lands under these statutes
and the lax methods OF administration
which for a long time prevailed nat
urally provoked the feeling that the
public domain was Legitimate prey for
the INSCRIPTIONS and that Il was no
crime to violate or circumvent the
land laws. It is to be regretted that
we, as a nation. were so tardy to real
ize the importance of preventing so
large n Measure Of our natural re-
sources passing into the hands Of land
pirates and spectators. with no view
to development looking 20 the national
welfare.
Must Continue Prosecutions.
1T may be safely said that millions Of
acres OF timber and other lands have
been unlawfuny obtained. and It Is
also true that actions 10 recover such
lands have IN most Instances long
since been barred by the statute Of
Limitations. The principal awakening
to our wasteful course came under
your predecessors administration. The
bold and vigorous prosecutions Of land
frauds through Secretaries Hitchcock
and Garfield. have restored a salutary
respect for the law, and the public
mind has rapidly grasped the lmpor-
tanee Of safeguarding the further dis
position Of our national resources in
the public land In the interest Of the
public good as against private greed.
Notwithstanding this. Il Is necessary
to continue with utmost yigor. through
all available sources. the securing Of
information Of violations Of the public
land laws and to follow such viola
tons with rigid prosecutions.
Use Private Enterprise.
In this present policy Of conserving
the natural resources OF the public do
main. while development IL the key.
nots, the best thought % the day Is
not that development shall be by ma
tional agencies. but that wise utiliEa-
ton shan be secured through private
enterprise under national supervision
and control. Therefore. 81 material
progress is 70 be made IN securing the
best use OF our remaining public lands.
congress must be called upon 10 enact
remedial legislation"
Mr. BnllinEer then gives IA detail
his recommendation for the classic
cation Of public lands, and the fea-
lures Of a measure which he advises
for the direction OF the disposal OF
water power sites.
The r amation Service.
Concernins he reclamation service.
the report says Ia part:
"In view OF the importance Of a
speedy completion OF existing projects
and their proper extension. and Of the
necessity IN 1919 OF an adjustment be.
tween the states by which the major
portion OF the funds arising from the
sale OF public lands within each stats
and territory shall have been ox.
pended 90 far as practicable within
such state or territory. and In view
OF the Importance OF making a bene-
fetal use OF waters already ap.
proprlated or capable Of %appropria.
ton 20 which rights may be lost
for nonuse, I believe an urgent ap-
peal should be- made 20 congress TO
authorize the Issuance Of certificates
OF Indebtedness. or OF bonds against
the reclamation fund. 10 IN aggregate
OF not exceeding $4,000. 600. or so
much thereof as may be needed
Energetic reorganization OF the IN.
dian bureau IS In progress. says MIR.
Ralltnger and be recommends that
the Indian warehouses az New York.
Chicago. Omaha. So. Louis and San
Francisco be closed as soon as pos
slbie. A more advanced policy re
specting the maintenance. improve
meut and operation OF the Yellowstone
and Yosemite national parks Is urged
on the government