The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-08-20
fRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
AXES STATEMENT REGARD
ING SEVERAL MATTERS.
|erates Assertion That Story of
erabbing" of Water Power Site in
|ontana Is an Absolute Falsehood,
|rculated With Malicious Intent
b Controversy With Pinchot.

aisIdr aug. AS long as any
ic lands remain tn be administered
will be complaints" declared
etary of the Interior Richard A.
niger, here today, anent the con-
frsy at Spokane and the COM
hts concering the reclamation serv-
o two. people are constituted alike.
there is always ample opportunity
Disagreement. Some Of the set
on the reclamation projects We're
rant OF conditions, which would
ront them, and they settled on
land in the expectation of reaping
ftune without the necessity of un-
landing irrigation methods. They
been disillusioned, and now de
the government to release them
their contracts, and to reim-
E them for their expenditures.
lch difficulties are To be expected
a new work Is taken up and
should not be allowed to assume
much Importance when the whole
is taken into consideration.
hine to running smoothly. No
can compass the future of irriga-
in the west The government
made the beginning, and a pretty
beginning. l believe. Fifty mill
dollars has been invested in
projects. and it will be turned
into the treasury as quickly as
be done without working a hard
on the settlers. and will then be
vested in new projects.
His Policy.
nee I entered the office of sec
|y af the interior, | have admin
Ii its affairs. not as any ex-
rs might dictate. but as | un-
Odd my duties. That will con-
to be my policy.
the same time / realize that
are some things in the law gov
II the disposition Of public lands.
IA ought to be modified. and as
as | shall have opportunity |
suggest such changes as appear
e In be necessary. in n report ti
ress. In the meantime the estah-
policy of the interior depart
will continue.
here have been gross misrepresen- .
rs sent out regarding action of
department in certain matters.
,isms have been pretty severe
some quarters. but confident
/ am absolutely right in the po-
have taken. | have paid no
tion 10 them. In time it will be .
n beyond IL doubt that my course
keen absolutely right. i
None "Grabbed." .
will be shown also. when the
are made known that despite
laims of the restoration of poWe. .
during this administration that
lily more sites have been with
h during the administration than
the former and that none
rawn under the former admins
I'm have been grabbed
short time ago there WAS a story
out from Helena. as malicious
AdS SstA pun hhs i11
$ truth. Ii purported to be dis
y of a filing on an immense
mt of land. which was to be
q over to the power trust, ae-
hg To the yarn. Ii was made 10
r also that this had been Il re-
filling allowed by the interior de-
hent.
took the pains to have this story
kigated. | found that instead of
Il recent filing ii was an ap-
ion for amendment and read
|ent of a filing made 10 years
and that instead Of $1,000 acres
nd being concerned, there were
la0 acres. The rest Of the story,
covered was also just a false.
Malicious Attack.
wv, that was Il malicious attack.
gained wide circulation. ] sup
and for which there was not
Brightest foundation.
ere was no controversy between
Pinehat and myself al the meet
L the Irrigation congress in Spo-
L was invited there To make
|aress on the work of the interior
tment. as il affected matters i'll
the irrigationists are interest
delivered the address as re-
I'D on the attitude of the admin
lon toward the reclamation OF
hid lands of the west. | did not
into any defense of my course
mrared with that of an official
bother department. Those who
he'd a controversy We're disan-
ri 50 far as / was concerned