Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-09-30
TAFT Will AWAIT
ACT OF CONGRESS
b Pledged to Roosevelt Policies Only
to That Extent.
FAvoRS $lO,OOO,OOO BOND ISSUE
All Of the 100000 Acres Of Power
Cite Lands Withdrawn by Roose-
welt, Re-opened Except
10000.

Spokane, Wash, Sept. 29.--President
Taft delivered here his long anticipat-
Cd speech on the conservation Of nat
urnl resources and outlined the policy
az 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 to carry
out these policies without COMPRESSION
a authorization. The president add
cd, however, that he would take every
step and exert every influence upon
congress to enact legislation which
shall best subserve the purposes and
requirements Of the situation.
President Taft created a great deal
of enthusiasm when he ammo .!eGd that
he would urge upon congress the me-
cessity Of authorizing the secretary Of
the interior to issue $10,000,000 Of
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 pro-
jectors, in their enthusiasm did not
closely observe the limitations OF the
reclamation act. Hardships have been
worked upon many settlers through
the suspension Of work, and Senator
Borah Of Idaho and other western
senators and representatives have
urged upon the president that bond
issue was the only way by which jus
tice could be done.
Mr.. Taft declared that congress did
mot intend that the government should
undertake projects which could not be
currently paid for out Of the proceeds
Of the sales Of public lands, but added
that he has been impressed during his
visit to the west Of the necessity for
immediate relief
II was here in Spokane a little while
ago that the irrigation congress met,
and the BallingerPinc controversy
arose. This controversy was fostered
BY the friends and adherents Of the
two officials, but not by the OficIals
themselves.
Secretary Ballinger was criticised
by former Governor Pardee Of Cali
forniA, and others In the congress, for
having recommended and secured the
re-opening for entry Of lands contain.
ing water power sites which had been
withdrawn by Mr.. Roosevelt. It was
asserted that water power trust"
had been formed to take up all Of
these lands and that the strong conser-
walton policy begun by Mr.. Pinchot,
with the support Of Mr.. Roosevelt, had
practically been abandoned.
President Taft gave credit both to
Mr.. Pinchot and to Mr.. Ballinger. He
referred to the wonderful work Of Mr..
Pinchot and said that while that work
had brought denunciation at first, 1t
was now generally realized that the
reforms inaugurated by Mr.. Pinchot
were not only necessary, but should
have been begun ten years ago.
The president defended the reopen
ing Of lands by the present admins.
tration as a compliance with existing
laws and declared that Mr.. Ballinger's
views are in strict accord with those
Of the administration, and that he has
been helpful and will use his powerful
Influence as secretary Of the interior
to support the president in securing
congressional action that will put the
Roosevelt polcy Of conservation on a
firmer basis. Mr.. Taft stated that the
100000 acres Of water power lands
withdrawn from the general entry by
the last administration has been re-
duced to 100000 acres, under the pres.
emit administration, The latter mum.
Der. however, he pointed out. contain
more ascertained power sites than did
the original Withdrawals.