Arizona republican., 1909-09-29
Administrations Policy With
Reference TO Conservation
THE SAME AS RoOsEVELTs
When Laws Have Been En-
acted to Authorize It's
Carrying Out-Both Bal
linger and Pinchot Com
mended by President

SpOkdIle, sept. ZS--RreSlQent Taft
delivered his long-anticipated speech
on the conservation of natural re-
sources and outlined the policy of
the administration on this subject
of supreme Importance today. Mr.
Taft broadly took the stand that
while the present administration was
pledged TO follow out the policies of
Roosevelt, such a pledge does not
involve him in any obligation to
carry out these policies without con-
gressional authorization.
The president added, however, that
he would take every step and exert
every influence upon congress to en-
act legislation which shall best sub
serve the purposes and requirements
of the situation. The president Gre
ated a great deal OF enthusiasm when
he announced that he would urge
upon congress the necessity of au-
thorizing the secretary of the in
terror to issue sl0.O0O.Oe0 bonds for
the completion of the irrigation prof.
ects in the west, upon which work
of funds, and the discovery that the
projectors, in their enthusiasm, did
not closely observe the limitations of
the reclamation act. Hardships have
been worked upon many settlers
through a suspension of work, and
Senator Borah of Idaho and c<ter
western senators and representatives
urged upon the president that a bond
issue was the only way by which
justice could be done.
Mr. Taft declared today that con-
gress did not intend that the gov
ernment should undertake projects
which could not be currently paid
for out of the proceeds of the sales
of public lands, but he added that -
had been impressed during his visit
to the west with the necessity of i'm
mediate relief.
Mr.. Ballinger was criticised by
Former Governor Pardee of California
and others in the National Irrigation
congress here recently for having
recommended and secured the reopen
ing for entry of lands containing
water power sites which had been
withdrawn by President Roosevelt,
and asserted that "a water power
trust" had been formed to take up
all these lands and that the strong
conservation policy begun by Chief
Forester Pinchot, with the support of
Mr., Roosevelt. had practically been
abandoned.
The president today gave credit
both to Pincilot and Ballinger. He
referred to the wonderful work of
hof rx-hiIa fha
work had brought denunciation at
first. it was generally realized that
the reforms inaugurated by Mr.. Pin
chot were not only necessary. but
should have been begun years ago.
The president defended the reopening
of lands by the present administra-
tion as in compliance with the ex-
listing laws, and he declared that
Ballinger's views were in strict ac-
cord with those of the adminiStra-
ton. and that he had been helpful
and will use his powerful influence
as secretary of the interior in support
of the president in securing congress
sional action that will put the Roose-
welt policy of conservation on a
firmer basis.
Mr. Taft stated that 1000, 900 acres
of wafer power lands withdrawn from
the general entry by the late adj
ministration had been reduced to
$4,000 acres under the present adj
ministration. The latter number,
however he pointed out, contain more
ascertained power sites than did the
original Withdrawals. He further
stated that it must be understood
that these Withdrawals are only tenn
porary, to permit congress to act
upon the recommendation he will
make that the government be au-
thorized to grant or lease power sites
to private concerns. to be developed
under general governmental control
and supervision. If congress fails To
act upon this recommendation. the
president says he knows of no way
in which the withdrawn lands can
much longer be withheld from claims
filed under the general land laws.
Mr.. Taft placed himself in opposi-
ton to the suggestion that settlers
should be allowed a longer term
than ten years in which TO repay
the government for water secured
through government irrigation prof.
ects He says a longer term would
not conduce to thrift, and would de-
lay work on additional projects which
should be undertaken.