The Washington times., 1909-11-10
BALLlN0ER WORKING
ON ANNUAL REPORT

Secretary Ballinger is still busy with
his forthcoming report TO Congress,
which will be the first that he has made
since he entered the Cabinet.
It is understood that he will take the
ground, IN his report. that il is for
Congress ultimately TO decide the policy
of the Government in conserving the
natural resources Of the country and he
viii state that whatever Withdrawals of
public lands ne has made during the
eight months Of his administration
we're made simply as n temporary meas
ure 10 prevent monopoly until Congress
can have time TO act. Secretary BaIIing-
er viii outline what ne has done This
summer ana give The number Of water
power sites that have been Withdrawn
by his order-a total much greater than
those Withdrawn by his predecessor ia
r. last Few days Of the Roosevelt Ad-
stration.
WIN call attention to the desira-
n preventing the monopoIization
water power sites and leave
congress to decide what mea-
alall be taken TO secure fair deal
~ all the people.
Jill Be StTong Document.
ary B2llIuser's report on the
over monopoly. IL is understood
strong document. but will
clearly that Congress must take
Ever action is taken TO guard
Sse-tst the threatened monopoly.
a national policy OF dealing with the
coal DEPOSITS Of the West, 50 as to
allow the consolidation Of several claims
and Pc NIX the development of coal
lands 4N "a pOrati0ns, which are ex-
ciUlet. H~ the present laws, VIII be
an0thc- -cOmmendatiOn by Secretary
Balliisa--. II is understood. 1t was in
FAVOR Of such law that he appeared
before the Public Lands Committee of
the House several years ago when he
vas Commissioner Of the General Land
ia" would result in the patenting Of
the much disputed Cunningham coal
slalInS In Alaska, II IL We're made re-
Conservation by law, and not bv er-
ecutive action, viii be the keynote of
Secretary BalIinger's report. which will
deal eXhausuVely with the legal prin-
clples underlying his action since he
has been the guardian of the public
domain. and which viii be in a Fseuse
a defense Of his attitude which has
aroused so much criticism from the
eonservationists,
Is Up TO Congress.
The Secretary, who is an attorney OF
recognized ability, VIII state that IN his
opinion II is for the legislative branch
70 slpulate how the public domain
executive branch of the government
nas no right 10 withhold land from set
lieInehJ IN the absence Of specific au-
thorizatiOn from Congress
II is stated today ia quarters recoey-
nlzed as authentic that Secretary Bal
lmger mas the support Of President Taft
IN THIS attitude, and that the Presidents
message TO Congress win deal with the
conservation problem In the same man
ner
Among the few members Of Congress
VINO are now ia Washington the opinion
prevails that the coming session viii
witness the hvliest discussion Ia years
over the conservation problem
SSFeLal DIS are ALREADY on the calen-
Oar calling for a complete revocation OF
all withdrawals OF public Iands-notably
one BY Representative Smith Of CALI
fornia, prohibiting the withdrawal OF
lands by the Executive WITHOUT legis-
latiye sanction, and one by Senator
Guggenheim, Of Colorado, granting ont
right rights of way for power lines.
dams. and canals through all the public
domain GuggenhelEAs bin expressly
forbids interference by the Foresty Blu
reau.
Other bills are being prepared that
Will express the c0HserVauouistsi Side
OF the question, aud the Public Land
Committees Of both houses Of Congress
viii begin hearings on the subject as
soon as Congress opens.