Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-29
BALLlNCER OUTLINES WORK
Secretary of Interior Makes State
ment Regarding Conservation
POWER SITES CHARGE DENIED
ne says None secured by Private
Parties ince lie Took CHARGE Of
Office-Congress win ne
Asked to Act.

WASHINGTON, oct. 2S.-secretary Rich
ard A. Ba11inger, OF the Department Of the
Interior, who returned to Washington last
night after an extensive tour OF inspection
OF the public domain and interests in the
far west under the Jurisdiction Of his de-
partment, gave out late today a statement
which is regarded as a declaration Of his
policy as to these matters.
The statement is written in the third per-
son, and takes up the various features Of
the work Of the department devoting par
tioular attention to the various reclamation
enterprises and especially to the subject of
water power sites on the public domain.
The secretary reiterates. without fear of
contradiction" the statement hitherto made
IN his behalf, that since his incumbency
no water power sites on the public domain
heretofore withdrawn have been secured
by private parties. and that he has ener-
g~eticaliy made every effort, by temporary
Withdrawals, to segregate existing power
sites on the public domain, In order to en-
able congress to l~egislate for their prudent
disposition"
Inspeets Reclamation work.
Secretary B~alllnger states that during his
trip, most Of the principal government
reclamation projects have been visited,
some Of them with the senat committee
on irrigation. The water-users and settlers
upon the reclamation projects have been
conferred with, as well as the government
officers in the field, respecting existing
projects, as we'll as questions which may
involve the Improvement of the service and
the advancement OF the interests Of the
settlers. "'
Inspecting the reclamation work of the
government In the west. the studies made
by the secretary have inspired him, the
statement says, with an ambition to COM
plete existing projects as rapidly as bust
ness prudence and moneys available will
permit n he is earnestly In favor of Sc
curing authority from congress for the is
suance of bonds against the reclamation
funds to give the service the means
whereby all existing projects can be speed
lily completed and necessary extensions un-
dertaken."
The secretary declined today to discuss
any phase Of the controversy regarding
conservation policies which has been de-
scribed as existing between himself and
Clifford Pinchot, the government forester.
He made it plain that he will deal with
Nnb SuDJeCl VI CoHS6I NdtiOh III MS diilud
report, to which he VIII soon give atten-
ton. lie declares himself m hearty ac-
cord with President Tart as to the under
taking or irrigation work only where prob
able feasibility warrants the expenditures
of the funds and independent Of local or
political considerations. Every measure
is to be adopted on the ground that 1t will
be useful for the whole country 4"
Oufiine or ReOort,
Confidence is EXPRESSED by the secretary
that when his attitude in regard to this
subject is known to the public, both the
people at.d congress- will be in hearty ac-
cord with the Administrative policies of the
Interior aepartmen% IN his report, the sec
rotary declares, heiAwfl place special en-
phasis upon the right use and disposition
of the coal, phosphate, oil and other min
eral deposits water power sites and other
important natural resources Of the public
domain. The activities Of the department,
the secretary declares, will also show "an
aggressive and u%ntiring effort to prevent
the illegal and improper disposition Of the
public dotidin."
Mr.. Baliinger describes himself as
"keenly alive to the Importance of the re-
clamation work in restraining flood waters
and protecting the. great river basins of
the west from destructive floods. He made
a special study of the condition on the Col
orado and Rio Grapde rivers involving the
appropriation and right use of these waters
within American territory before their pas
sage into Mexico"
Indian. schools.
The condition of some of the indian
schools inspected was described by the
secretary as "a disgrace to the nation"
He declared today that some of them were
nothing but mere rat traps, foul with age
and unsanitary. He Is in full accord with
the commissioner of Indian affairs in his
attempt to overhaul the field service and
secure greater efficiency and a more pro.
nounced advancement of the Indians.
The secretary Is very emphatic in his
commentator Of the personnel of the engi'
neers and suboFdlnates in the reclamation
service n for the high type Of construc
ton and durability of the work on the vari'
Gus projects, for which they are respon.
sible, as well as their general efficiency
and integrity. The secretary indicates tina
the work will be prosecuted with such dis
patch as to enable the government to avail
itself OF the appropriation and beneficial
use Of waters in the western states wher'
large undertakings may be availed OF anC
which, he says, are generally not within
the ability Of private enterprise.
To Dissolve the Union
Of stomach, liver and kidney troubles an,