The Daily Missoulian., 1909-08-19
CORPORATE BODIES
GET BUSY
INTERESTS SEEK TO CAST ASIDE
ROOSEVELT POLICIES AT iR-
RiGATIoN CONGRESS.

Spokane. Aug. ls.-"Corporate in
terests back Of Richard 4. BaIlinger.
secretary of the interior, seized upon
every opportunity at the 18th session
81 the National Irrigation congress in
Spokane, August To IL. to cast aside
the Roosevelt policies, the avowed pur-
pose being to gain control of the water
power of the country. but the congress
was firm and thwarted every attempt
made. with the result that railroad
and corporation lawyers and their
friends were utterly routed / look
upon this as a signal victory for Fred
erick II. Newell. director of the recla-
nation service, and Clifford Pinchot.
chief forester" A..
Dr. George G. Pardee of Oakland.
former governor of California. who Is
looked upon as the foremost exponent
of irrigation in the United States.
said this. among other things, in dis
cussing the differences. between the
policies OF the former president and
Secretary Ballinger. He added:
If the reclamation policy of ex
President Roosevelt is carried out the
control of the electrical energy pro-
duccd by water power in so years from
now will belong to the common people.
but If the policy inaugurated by Sec
retary Ballinger be adopted. that con-
troll will belong to the great corpora
tions of this country.
President Taft told me that he de-
sired to continue the Roosevelt rec
lamation policies, vet one Of Mr.. Bal
lingers very first acts was to throw
open to public entry 1,0OO.0Q0 acres
of land. which had been retained by
Secretary Garfield for power sites and
dam foundations.
He did this secretly. too. without
giving any official notice of the act.
although ii had been the practice un-
der Secretary Garfield to give 60 days
notice of any such opening. AS soon
as President Taft realized what had
been done. he ordered the land to be
taken back by the government and
that no more land be thrown open to
entry. except by orders given by him
self.
Before President Taft could act the
damage had been done, as all the
available power and dam sites had
been taken by corporations, through
their dummies and only those tracts
which are worthless for power sites
We're left.
The Roosevelt policy, as favored by
Mr.. Newell and Mr.. Pinchot, is to go
ahead and do the reclamation work
that should be done. II there be
doubt as to the authority for doing
the act. the Roosevelt policy is to do
the thing which will be to the best
interests of the common people. If
there is doubt under the Ballinger pol
icy, nothing is To be done unless 1t Il
in strict accordance with the law.
Since it was given out by Presi-
dent Taft that no more land be re
turned to public entry. except by his
order. Secretary Rallinger has done no
official act which can be said To be Il
reversal of the Roosevelt policies. No
new projects have been approved by
him, but the plans for an immense dam
in the Grand river valley I'm California.
approved by Mr.. Garfield before his
retirement from office. have been with
held by Secretary Balilnger.
The policy of the new secretary is
one of hedging and inaction. He is
said to have the support of the cahi-
net at Washington, with the excep-
tion of Secretary Wilson of the de
partment of agriculture, who Is an
ardent supporter of the Roosevelt pol
icies and President Taft"