Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-09-29
President Will Ask for This Sum to
Complete Projects in F'~'
COMPLIMENTS FO1 e, yHoT
Work of the Chief Fores yh
Commended. =
MUCH LEGISLATION
Laws Classifying Public l.
uIntiOn of Disposal of Po, sItes
and other Matters UD to
Lawmakers.

SPOKANE Wash Sept. 2.-President
Taft delivered here today his long antici-
pated speech on the conservation OF natural
resources and outlined the policy Of his
administration on this subject OF supreme
Importance to all the west
Mr.. Taft broadly took the stand that
while the present administration is pledged
to follow out the policies OF Mr.. Roosevelt, !
such a pledge does not involve him in any |
obligation 10 carry out those policies with
out congressional authorization. The presi- |
dent added however, that he would take |
very step and exert every influence upon |
congress 20 enact legislation which shall |
best suoserve the purposes and require
ments Of the situation.
President Taft created much enthusiasm |
when he announced that he would urge |
upon congress the necessity Of authorizing |
the secretary of the interior to issue $10. |
600 900 bonds for the completion of irrigation |
projects in the west upon which work has |
been suspended because of lack of funds |
and the discovery that the projectors, in |
their enthusiasm did not closely observe the
limitations OF the reclamation act. Hard |
ships have been worked upon many settlers
through the suspension Of work, and Sena-
tor Borah of Idaho and other western sena-
tors and representatives have urged upon
the president that a bond Issue was the
only way by which justice could be done.
Immediate Relief Needed.
Mr. Taft declared congress did not intend
that the government should undertake
projects which could not be currently paid
for out Of the proceeds of the sales OF pub
lie lands, but added that he has been i'm
pressed during his visit to the west Of the
necessity for immediate relief.
II was here in Spokane a little while ago
that the National Irrigation congress met,
and RalIinper- pinchot cotrOVersy
arose This controversy was fostered by
the friends and adherents OF the two Of
ficials, but not by the officials themselves.
Secretary Ballinger was criticized by
former Governor Pardee Of California and
others In the congress for having recon-
mended and secured the reopening for entry
OF lands containing water-power sites
which had been withdrawn by Mr.. Roose-
Welt. 1t was asserted that ''water-power
trust had been formed to TAX up all of
these lands and that the strong conserva-
tlon policy begun by Mr.. Pinchot, with the
support OF Mr.. Roosevelt. had practically
been abandoned.
President Taft today gave credit both TO
Mr. Pinchot and Mr.. Ballinger. He re-
ferred to the wonderful work OF Mr.. Pin
chot, and said that while that work had
brought denunciation at first 1t was now
generally realized that the reforms inau-
gurated by Mr.. Pinchot were not only nee
essary, but should have been begun ten
years ago.
President TAft's Address.
Mr.. Taft said:
Il am going to take up today the subject
of the conservation OF our national TO
sources. I shall confne my attention to
those parts of the policy which are GER
tainly within the jurisdiction Of the ma
tional government and especially concern
the country west OF the Missouri river.
II refer, first, to the preservation OF the
national forests; second. 10 the reclamation
OF the arid and semi-arid lands by irriga-
tion; third, to the disposition Of water
power sites upon public lands, with proper
restrictions upon use both In respect TO the
compensation, it's extent In point OF time
and the adjustment of rates to be charged
to the public by the beneficiary of the
grant; fourth TO the disposition of coal,
oil and phosphate lands owned by the gov
ernment with such restrictions will
permit their development for private profit
and yet will prevent monopoly and extor-
ton In the sale OF the product
The national forests as reserved by ex-
ecutive order, contains about 1s7. 900 900 acres
of land In the United States proper. All
Of this land Is now under the direct control
OF the forestry bureau and is being pre-
served from fire and from other destruc-
tion and is being treated in accordance
with the best modern methods Of treating
forests, under the supervision Of Mr. Pin
chot the head OF the bureau OF forestry
In the Department OF Agriculture
states and Forestry Rights.
1T appears that the government timber
land Is only about one-fourth Of the timber
land owned by private individuals and only
per cent OF the timber land owned by
private individuals is properly looked after
according to modern methods of forestry.
THE destruction by fire of forests Is esti-
mated to be S50,OO0OOO a year 1t would
SEEM therefore, imperative that the states
should exercise their jurisdiction over these
forests TO which have referred, and which
are held by private individuals. and form
system Of fire protection and the adop-
tion OF the best methods OF forestry. 1t
would seem that the states have a right to
do this because OF the general interest
which the public has in the preservation
OF the forests and in its equalizing of the
water supply and its effect upon the
climate,
The regulation OF the water supply. OF
course, prevents erosion OF the soil and the
wasteful destruction OF the best part OF
the soil which Is carried down the rivers
with the floods.
Compliment for Pinchot.
II won't stop to discuss at length the
forestry question. The wonderful progress
made by Mr.. Pinchot. with the earnest sup
port OF MIR. Roosevelt and Secretary VIII
son at times has met the denunciatIon OF
persons In this western country on the
ground that property was being taken
which congress intended for individuals.
and was being withheld from them. But I
think general opposition to Mr.. Pinchot's
II plans has disappeared and that the great
body OF the American people recognize the
benefits OF the reform I'm reference TO for
CONTINUED on Third PaEeO