The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-10-08
OF
TRUST
PINCHOT GIVES OUT UN-
EOUIVOCAL STATEMENT
OF POSITION.
Will Continue Fight to Conserve
Water Power and Forests As-
serts that Congress Should
Give Immediate Attention to
Preventing Monopoly.

Washington, Oct. 2.-Unequivocall
asserting that a monopoly is being
formed with the object of obtaining
possession of water power sites of the
country, Clifford Pinchot, chief of the
bureau of forestry, who has returned
from an extended inspection of the
West, declared remedial legislation
must be enacted at the coming session
of congress if this great natural re-
source is to be preserved to the PEG
pie
The problem of how best to prevent
the nations water sites from being
gobbled up by such combinations, Mr.
Pinchot predicted, will be one of the
biggest issues before congress. The
supposed trust is now in the formative
state, Mr.. Pinchot declared, and
sary to throttle it. Another big prob
lem confronting congress will be the
disposition of vast areas of coal lands
in the West, principally in Alaska. It
is important that congress should take
prompt action on this important mat.
ter, Mr.. Pinchot said, for the protec-
ton of the country's fuel supply, and
also to prevent a monopoly in that pro-
duct
EmphaticaIIy Stands Pat.
Any doubt as to whether Mr.. Pinchot
would continue to advocate the poll
cies for which he has fought so hard
was set at rest by him today. AS
result of his Western tour he is as
fully determined as ever to continue
his policies regarding the cons ervation
of the country's natural resources and
the great natural forest reserves. He
declared President Taft is thoroughly
imbued with the conservation move
ment, and that the people are more
aroused than ever. President Taft,
Mr.. Pinchot said, has expressed him
self in favor of a conservation COM
mission and added that he (Pinchot)
was always in favor of that sugges-
ton.
One subject only did Mr.. Pinchot de-
cline to discuss. That related to the
so-called Ballinger-Pinchot controversy
over the conservation question. That
he has no intention of relinquishing
his position as chief forester as the
result of that incident, was reiterated,
when he declared emphatically, II am
not going to resign"
After declaring that "there is wa
ter power trust certainly in the pro-
cess of formation" Mr.. Pinchot added:
Power Sites May Form Trust.
''In my judgment the tendency to
consolidate, which is now running
through all industrial enterprises, will
necessarily lead to the consolidation
of the water power interests exactly
as it has consolidation of steel and oil
interests. There has got to be legisla-
ton on this water power bus mess.
President Taft has indicated his inten-
ton of asking congress for legislation
for governing, as I understand it, the
disposal of water power sites on the
public domain, so that the whole wa
ter power question naturally will be
taken up before congress. Are we 60
ing to give these power sites in per-
petuity? is question with which con-
gress will have to DEAL"
'Is it possible to head off this
trust?" Mr.. Pinchot was asked.
"The government probably cannot
prevent formation of such a monop-
oily" he replied, "but it can control it.
regard this matter as one of the
most important questions with which
congress will have to DEAL"
Mr.. Pinchot said he had never seen
the forests in more satisfactory con-
dition. "The personnel of the service
is of high standard and the district
plan of organization in operation since
December last is in admirable condi-
tion''
Says Conservation Is Popular.
Mr.. Pinchot said the recent trip of
Secretary Wilson through the West
had an admirable effect in fostering
cons ervation sentiment "It developed
the fact said he, that the people in
places where the most complaints
came from are strongly in favor of
conditions in the forests. Public senti.
ment is rapidly becoming unanimous
in favor of the forest service work.
Our receptions from the sale of lum.
Der and some grazing are increasing.
There has been fewer fires this year
than ever, and we have them under
better control"
Have you anything to say on the
question of conservation" Mr.. Pinchot
| was asked.
eyes, I have" he replied. 'T wish
to announce that 1 have come back
to continue my work in conservation
OF forestry without change in either
policy"
Mr.. Pinchot will remain here a few
days, when he will go to st. Louis to
meet President Taft and accompany
him on his river trip to New Orleans.
Olympia, Oct. 5.-The state railroad
commission will visit Seattle Wednes-