Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-02
war CHIEF URGES CAUTION
Secretary Dickinson Then Endorses
Great Navigation of Rivers.
PROCEED AT ONCE, SAYS PNCHoT
chief Forester says Neither Undue
Haste or Excessive De~IiBeration
SHOULD weaken work Of
Improving Streams.

Dickinson. secretary of war. was a speaker
at the convention OF the Lskes-to-the-Gulf
Deep Waterway association today. MT.
: Dickinson urged that caution be exercised
in the plan for the proposed Lakes-to-the-
Gulf waterway, saying the work was too
vast and costly to be improvidently I'M
dertaken. "It so vitality affects the for
tunes Of so large a territory tina no i'm
mature plan. nor one tina will not be ac-
q~uiesced in by the country should have
your advocacy" the speaker declared.
He added, "Our people will undertake any
expenditure that they are convinced IL
well Justified.
There is conclusive evidence that some
thing should be done as early as practi-
cable on a large scale, for utilizing the
transportation facilities with which ma
ture has provided u.s."
In beginning his address, Secretary D.ck-
inson said:
The proposed improvements to naviga-
ton that now absorb our interest are OF
~stupendous magnitude, and present ques-
lions involved in much controversy. Here
tofore, the work has been detached, spas
modic, Intermittent. 1t has largely de-
pended upon the activity Of merely local
influences. Now all the forces Of the public
sentiment in the states bordering on the
Mississippi and it's tributaries have con-
verged, and there is a conclamatory cry
for inaugurating and carrying to a prompt
execution a comprehensive and permanent
plan that will give TO that region the high
est development that its natural transpor-
tation facilities, aided by the best engln-
eering skill, can afford.
PinchOt for Navigation
"A progressive plan for the development
Of our waterways is essential said Chief
Forester Clifford Pinchot. Pending the
completion Of that plan, which should
neither be weakened by excessive haste nor
drowned in excessive elaboration, work
should proceed at once on some Of the
greater projects which we know already
will be essential under any plan that may
be devised. First and foremost of these
by unanimous consent is the improvement
Of the Mississippi river,
"A comprehensive and progressive plan
Of the kind we need can be made in one
way only, and that is by a commission of
the best men in the United States APP
pointed directly by the president Of the
United States.
such a plan must consider every use to
which our rivers can be put, and every
means available for their control. 1t must
deal with such great questions as the re.
lation of the states and the nation in the
construction and control Of the work, and
the coordination Of rail and river trans.
portation. The engineering difficulties may
be larger than any we have yet solved.
Thu adjustment Of opposite demands be
tween conflicting interests and localities,
and other questions of large reach. and
often Of great legal completely, will tax
the powers of the best men we have. No
part of the work will require greater tenn.
perance, wisdom, and foresight than GER.
tain questions Of policy and law.
II have observed in the course Of some
experience that difficulties originating with
the law are peculiarly apt to foster mis-.
conceptions, 1t happens that the service
with which / have the honor to be con-
nected supplies just now a typical ex-
ample.
Example in Forestry Work.
Certain newspapers have said OF late
that the forest service has gone beyond
the law in carrying out its work. This as,
sertion has been repeated so persistently
that there is danger that it may be be-
lieved. The friends Of conservation must
not be led to think that before the forcs,
service can proceed legally with its pres.
ent work all the hazards and compromises
of new legislation must be faced.
Fortunately, the charge Of Illegal action
is absolutely false. The forest service has
had ample authority for everything It has
done. Not once since II was created has
any charge Of illegality, despite the most
searching investigation and the bitterest
attack, ever led to reversal or reproof BY
either house OF congress or by any con-
gresslonal committee. Since the creation
OF the forest service the expenditure OF
more than Sl1,OOO, 900 has passed success.
fully the scrutiny of the treasury OF the
United States. Most significant Of all, moi
once has the forest service been defeated
as to any vital legal principle underlying
its work in any court or administrativ
tribunal OF last resort. Thus those whC
make the law and those who interpret II
legal.
Results Necessary.
Blu it is not enough to say that the
forest service has kept within the law
Other qualifications go to make efficiency
In a government bureau. A bureau may
keep within the law and yet fail to &c.
results"
Continuing Mr.. Pinchot said:
When action Is needed for the public
good there are two opposite points of view
\ regarding the duty Of an administrative Of
ficer In enforcing the law. one point OF
specific law authorizing or directing sucf
actionF" and having thus sought and f0unC