The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-05-13
WASHINGTON NOTES
OF MUCH INTEREST
Geological Survey Is to Explore High
Peaks, Defles and Canyons in a
Search for All the Water Pow
er Site Available.

Washington, D. O., May l3.--As soon
as the weather permits, experts from the
geological survey will start from Wash.
Iington for the mountain Businesses Of
the West TO explore high peaks, defiles
and canyons in a search Of all the water
power sites available on the public do
main.
This will be done in accordance with
the order issued few days ago by
Secretary Ballinger at the direction Of
President Taft, who has announced that
he win do all in his power to continue
the Roosevelt policy for the conservation
Of natural resources. II will be a con.
certed effort on the part Of the govern
ment to obtain information as to the
operations Of the alleged water-power
trust and to present this information
to Congress in such shape that law
can be enacted for the proper regulation
Of such sites.
Secretary Ballinger's order excited
much interest here, where the devotees
Of the Roosevelt conservation idea have
been watching every move Of the govern.
ment to learn where the present ad.
ministration stands on that aIl-impor.
tant subject The recent restoration Of
great tracts Of land that had been with.
drawn by President Roosevelt for the
purpose Of conservation had been topic
for discussion all week until Taft isshed
a statement throug Chief Forester Pin
chot that he believed in conservation.
Then came the announcement that the
interior department was going TO carry
out the Roosevelt policy.
The apparent discrepancy between
this announcement Of policy and the
action Of the secretary Of the interior
in restoring to entry the power site
Withdrawals is explained BY the admin
istration BY stating that the land should
not have been withdrawn until the de-
partment knew that Il was valuable
for power site purposes. Ii ia claimed
that there is no special knowledge about
these lands but that they were with.
drawn pending examination. Ballinger
says he viii do his examining Of The
lands first and the Withdrawing after.
wards. When be has the information he
seeks. he viii present It to Congress
with the Taft idea OF the conservation
Of water power sites
Whether the Taft bill will be the |
same as that recommended BY Roosevelt |
in several Of his messages in which be
denounced the water power trust, it is
impossible to learn. Government officials /
say that they want to know conditions
before they make any statement as to
the contemplated legislation.
The present administration is proceed.
ing on the theory that IL Congress wants /
to conserve the water power sites of The 4
public domain, II must pass law. The
lands thus valuable will be withdrawn
from entry As fast as they are classified
but II Congress fails 10 pass conserva.
tion law, it viii be taken as an indica-
tion that the law makers Of the country
want the power sites treated as any
other public land. and the land viii be
Immediately restored TO entry again.
One Of the niost striking features Of
the debate in teh Senate on tile tariff
bin. 80 fer al ii has gone, ii the support
which Is being given to "Bosp Aldrich
by his young colleagues on the finance
committee.
As always happens during eonsidera
ton Of a great subject like this, which
affects every line Of business and prac-
iically every class Of wages, new leaders
are being developed
One would naturally suppose that such
veterans a. Hale and Burrows. both Of
whom have had previous experience ia
The preparation OF tariff bills. IN the
House as well as in tha Senate. would
leforemost in coming to the assistance
u Aldrieh when be is pressed for infor-
nation.
Instead Of that, the elder statesmen
ave scarcely uttered a word during the
lebate as yet. except TO interiect ohjee-
ions TO proposed rates affecting certain
u their home industries II Is the
kids Of the ommittee-Smoot OF Utah
md Flint Of California--who are always
eady to rise in defense OF the bill as
exported to the Senate and are prepared
With reasons for the changes that have
zen made from the House provisions
II from the prevailing Dingley rates.
ioth Of these men were appointed to tho
nance committee only at the beginning
f the present session. In the case Of
moot, ii was qait q change from being
he hunted Mormon apostle fighting
or the right to hold his seat. to the
POSITION OF taking leading part in
ariff discussion.
But both smoot and Flint have APP
arently been giving close attention to
he mass OF information that has beenl
admitted to the finance committee ON
he various schedules. They have ae- 9
uired vast amount Of knowledge and
hey are quick to impart it to their coll
sagles when the occasion alters. Smoot.
appears, not only knows great deal
bout the chemical schedule, which in
ludes a number Of articles which 90
lto the propagation Of fertilizers and
ther matters Of general use, but he is
n expert on wool and wo0lens He has
cen wooden manufacturer and he
tarted the other day to tell the Senate
II about it. from the time the wool
las taken from the Sleeps back up
) the time it was made into d suit of
othes. He got tagged, however, and
ad to withhold his voluminous informa-
ion until later.
Flint and Smoot, both, had absorbed
lot Of knowledge about cotton cloth
nd were ready to tell the Senate just
hy the rates are predicated upon SO
lany threads to an inch, but inasmuch
! that subject was only up casually,
hey had to defer their explanation.
hev did, however, produce the interest
q information that the changes in these