The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-08
TELLS WHY HE REVOKED ORDER Secretary BaIlinger Defends
 His Position. AIDS CONSERVATION POLICY Explains Wihdrawal of Lands
 From Settlement. Head of Interior Department Adds An- other Chapter to Now Fsmous TalAThinks Action Logical
 and Not Anreat to His
 Preaecessor.

WaSnluStOns NV. t.---ooSfStety VI t'Ao Interior Ballinger's widely discussed revocation of the famous Garfield orr der" withdrawing from settlement a million and half acres of public lands and the substitution therefor of q withdrawal order. withholding from settlement 100000 acres today was de- clared by Mir. Ballinger to have been wholly promotive--not subversive---o the conservation policy.
 A lengthy explanation of his cancel iation of the Garfield withdrawal was given to the press by MT. Balltnger, who asserted that 1, 1t was logical step in the prosecution of the policy of conserving the water power on the federal domain, and one which MT. Garfield must have taken himself had he remained in ofiice.
 "The first order was blanket with drawal, issued to meet an emergency and without taking time to ascerUfn just where the power sites were locat- ed" Secretary Ballinger said. lnteiil- gent prosecution of the policy demand ed that as soon as possible thereafter these sites be located and the lands not needed to protect them be restored to entry. It would he an unwarranted reflection on Secretary Garfield to as- sume that he would not have done pre- cisely what did, ascertain as soon as practicable where the power sites were actually located and issue new order withdrawing them from settle ment and restoring to entry all lands not needed for that purpose.
 Uses New Department.
 .I found that by utilizing the geolog- teal survey, instead of the reclamation hu my predecessor could secure accurate information aE to the location Of the power sites. On consultation with the legal officers of my department. found that I could make withdrawal orders retro-actiye; that Is. that could issue withdrawal orders later which would effectualiy protect any power sites within any entries which might have been made in the interim. The retro active provision of the subsequent withdrawals operated completely to conserve the sites.
 Not @ single power site has passed out of the possession of the govern ment during this administration" con tinued the secretary. As a matter of fact. the withdrawals ordered by me protected fifty per cent more power sites than were conserved by the Gar field order. This implies no criticism of the Garfield order and merely shows that the Garfield order was tentative.
 sMy first withdrawal order was dat ed May 4, 1909, and the last which in- ciuded any of the lands formerly with drawn. June 1o. 1909. but each of these orders contained the language all exist ing claims. filiings and entries are tenn porarily suspended As a matter of fact. there was not a single filing on a power site during the Interim. On the other hand. the restoration to en- try of oyer a. million acres of land not needed to protect the power sites ai- layed widespread discontent and thus ayoiedd unnecessarily making enemies for the conservation policy. Since June 10. I have made twenty-five additional withdrawals In entirely new territory"
 Secretary Ballinger stated that his orders of withdrawal do not protect mower sites within forest reservations and added in explanation. that prev iously he had offered to include power sites on forest reservations but that the offer was declined on the ground that the forest service could take care of such sitea The secretary asserted that & number of factors caused his course to be misunderstood and mis- represented but some of these he was not at liberty to discuss.