The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-09-16
Montana Lands.

..The story as to the 5000 acres in
Montana then presented by Governor
pardee was reduced to 15S acres near
the, Missouri river In Montana. ar four
tracts of 40 acres each. and 1t now
trims out from examination of the
records that these filings were re-
filings OF entries made 10 years be-
fore; that the re-filings were made on
the nth of June. 1909, more than two
weeks after the withdrawal Of the
water power sites I'm Montana. and
that the four tracts of 40 acres each
filed upon have no water power sites
on them at all.
1T further appears from report of
the director of the geological survey
that the order of withdrawal of Jan
uary, 1909 was hastily made by town
ships and by reference to inadequate
maps. that 1t included large areas not
within miles of any river or stream,
and that 1t failed to include many val
liable water power sites in the i'm
mediate vicinity.
From the same reliable source it
Is learned that under the withdrawals
made by your department from time
to time, beginning In May last, there
are now withheld from settlement
awaiting the action of congress more
than 80 per cent more water power
sites than under previous administra-
tions that has been perfected by a
withdrawal of only one-fifth of the
amount of land.
an connection with the same charge.
weight has been given the fact that
you declined to carry out the contracts
made by the reclamation service with
homesteaders and entrymen by which
certificates were issued to entrymen
for work and material furnished with
a view to enlarge the reclamation
project. You brought up the question
of the legality of such certificates I'm
a cabinet meeting and were directed
to submit 1t to the attorney general.
That officer has very properly. in my
judgment. decided that it is at vari-
ance with an explicit prohibition in
the Reclamation law to issue such GER
ttificates; that the laws fundamental
mandate is that no project shall be
entered upon until there Is money
enough in the reclamation fund tn
pay for the project or part thereof
contracted for. The certificate sys-
tenn is in fact n system for borrowing
labor and material ana making the
government n debtor to intending set
tiers-a system that Is inhibited by the
law and cannot but result ultimately
in disaster. OF course, those who
have accepted such certificates for la
Dor and material i'm good faith ought
In ha Eha apl-
from congress at the next session spe-
eial relief for them. Meantime the
work of reclamation should be car
ried on whenever funds are available.
with all the dispatch possible. and
am assured that this is being done. |
hope that after you have made per
sonal investigation of all the recia-
nation work and looked into the
finances you will be able to report to
congress showing exactly what has
been done, what ought to be done and
what additional legislation. If any. is
needed and ought To be passed to fur
Their this great and important work.
Within the Law.
I'm my Judgment he Is the best
friend of the policy of conservation
who insists that every step taken in
that direction should be within the
law and buttressed by legal authority.
lnsistenee on this is not Inconsistent
with Il whole hearted and bona fide
interest and enthusiasm i'm favor Of
conservation. From my conferences
with you and from everything | know
I'm respect to the conduct of your de-
partment. l am able to say that you
are fully in sympathy with this ad-
ministration's attitude in favor Of the
conservation of natural resources.
sincerely yours.
civilian Fl. TAFT.
"Hon. Richard \. Rallinger. Secre-
far,. Of thu Intarfnr ANnshknntnns