Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-28
RELIEF FOR SETTLERS
Taft's Conservation Speech
Cheered at Spokane.
WILL ASK FOR BOND ISSUE
Wants Congress to Authorize $10,-
100000 to Complete Irrigation.
TO FOLLOW ROOSEVELT PLANS
At the Same Time Promises to Keep
Within Statute-Receives En-
thusiastic Welcome.
WILL ASK FOR BOND ISSUE
TO FOLLOW ROOSEVELT PLANS
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
SPOKANE. Wash. September 2s.-
President Taft delivered his last set
speech of the western trip here at II
o'clock this morning. Conservation OF
the nations natural resources was the
subject, and to the west this speech was
of more immediate Importance than any
that the President has delivered since he
left Boston.
In the speech the President outlined
the program of legislation that he will
recommend to Congress on this subject.
making II plain that he intended to follow
out the Roosevelt policy of conservation,
but at the same time keep strictly within
a reasonable Interpretation of the statute.
The President indicated that he would,
if possible, obtain relief through legisla-
ton for settlers who have taken up land
In sections where the reclamation projects
have been held up because of their lille
gality.
Will Ask for 10000, 900.
The President declared he would ask
Congress to authorize the issuance Of
s1O.OOOOOO in bonds to complete irriga-
and on which work had been stopped
for lack of funds. This has been the
hope of many settlers in the arid regions
who had taken up lands in expectation
Of procuring a supply Of water to make
them fertile. and the Presidents declara-
ton was enthusiastically cheered
The President declared that many news
papers had drawn unfair inferences as
TO the attitude OF his administration on
the general conservation Of natural re-
sources.
''The truth is." he said, my admins
tration IL pledged to follow out the poll
icies Of Mr.. Roosevelt In this regard,
and, while the pledge does not involve
me In any obligation to carry them out
unless / have congressional authority to
do 30. 1t does require that / take every
step to exert every legitimate influence
upon Congress to enact the LEGISLATION
whioh shall best suhserve the purpose
The President declared that Secretary
with him as to the necessity for pro-
noting In every legitimate way the con-
servation Of natural resources.
Praise for Pinchot.
The President also has praise for Chief
Forester Clifford Pinchot, and refers to
his wonderful work for the conservation
Of the forests, supported by Mr.. Roose-
velt"
President Taft declared as to water
power sites that Congress must authorize
the government to allot these sites to
private interests for development, the
government retaining general control and
supervision.
He declared also that he would urge
upon Congress the necessity of an au-
thoritative classification of public lands
to prevent difficulties of the past, such
as the setting aside Of coal and mineral
lands as agricultural lands and vice versa
The west has been insistent for the
last week that the President should de-
clare himself on the conservation policy,
but Mr.. Taft had reserved his speech
until he reached this place so that he
might deliver 1t from the same platform
on which Secretary Of the Interior Bal
linger was attacked at the recent con-
servatton congress. In this way the
President intended to emphasize his sup
has done.
Consulted With Ballinger.
The President was at work in his spe-
cial train until after midnight debating
his speech, and he was up and at it again
before o'clock this morning. He con-
suited freely with Secretary Ballinger be-
fore the speech was prepared, and he fur
ther expressed his confidence in Mr.. Bal
linger by having him glance over it be-
fore 1t was delivered.
The President arrived here at O'Clock
in the morning. The sprained tendon in
his foot was a little better than 1t was
yesterday. but he is still obliged to favor
it. and will do as little walking as possible
today.
The President will be in Spokane the en-
tire day. The program that the Spokane
folks had prepared for him was siren
uous. He started from his car at 6
clock In the morning for formal break
fast This was followed by a motor trip
around the city, a reviewing of several
thousand school children, the G. A. r
and civic organizations and a speech from
open-air stand. The speech was re-
ceived with enthusiasm by big crowd.
luncheon in the city came next, and
the President and his party were piled
into automobiles and started f,r Hayden
lake. several miles from the city. His ride
took him through the beautiful Spokana
valley. At Hayden lake the President was
treated TO game dinner. There were bear
meat, duck, grouse and many ether deli
Cacies from the woods of Washington
The President will leave here at . O'Clock
tonight for Seattle. where he will spend
two days visiting the exposition.
Cigarette Smoker Held Up.
One member OF the Taft party bumped
up against a Washington law at O'Clock
this morning and came near to being ar
rested. This member had stepped out OF
the station platform to have a little stroll
and smoke a cigarette. A policeman tap
ped him on the shoulder and said, "Yo,
are violating the law. SIR
The astonished Taft follower Learned
that he was subject to q dollar I'm,
OF the first offense and a twenty -five-dol
lar fine on the second for smoking a Gig
arctic. The policeman let him of wher
he pleaded ignorance, but the wicked vio
lator walked over to the bank of the Spo
kane river and formally consigned tw,
full boxes Of cigarettes to its depths.