The Washington times., 1909-09-29
SHIFTS THE BURDEN
OF RESPONSIBILITY
Taft Puts 1t Up to Congress to Garry Out Conservation
Policies Of Roosevelt, Is General Opinion. Since
Presidents Speech at Spokane.

SPOKANE. Wash. sept. -g-Presidoni
Taft has very neatly shifted the respon-
sihility for the carrying out or the re-
5ectinE Of the Roosevelt policy OF con-
eervation TO the shoulders OF Congress.
That Is the view taken today by public
men who heard OF who have carefully
read his speech delivered IN Spokane.
which aims 10 define his attitude to-
ward the conservation question.
The speech is generally looked upon
IS diplomatic in the extreme. The Pres
ident declared he stood FOR the Roose-
welt plans-but added that he believed
rome OF them were not within the limit
of the law. These. he said, would have
10 be acted upon by the nations lesis-
lstors before he could put them into
effect.
Neither did the speech add any fuel
10 tho controversy between Secretary
OF the Interior BallinEer and Forester
Clifford Pluchot. Though the subject OF
his talk was the very controversy that
has agitated those gentlemen for the
past six months and longer. ne managed
10 indorse BallinEcr and at the same
time pay high compliments 60 Mr..
Pinchot.
Burden On Him.
The President declares the burden OF
bringing the conservation program out
lined by his predecessor lies with him.
MY administration is pledged TO fol-
low out the policies Of Mr.. Roosevelt
IN this regard chat Of conservation,
and. while that pledge does not Involve
me in any obligation to carry them
out unless 1 have from Congress fun
authority 10 do SO. it does require that
] take every step and exert every in
nuence upon Congress to enact the leg
~islstion which shall best suDserve the
purposes indicated"
a part Of the conservation project he
will cali 10 the attention OF Congress
President Taft outlined. This portion re-
fers 10 the disposal OF the Government
oil and phosphate lands, and Of the
Raterpower sites on the Government do
MAN.
The surface should be separated from
the mineral deposits of the land, accord
ing 10 the President. ana the mineral
contents should either be disposed Of
outright or on a basis of royalties
Forestry Bureaus Holdings.
After dwelling upon the Importance of
conserving the forests, the water power
of the country. and retaining the arid
lands. the President said az present
167. po00o0 acres are under control or the
Forestry Bureau. This Is only about
one-fourth % that under private owner
ship.
Although a great deal o.: opposition
had developed against the policies en-
forced by Mr.. Roosevelt, Secretary VII
son. and Forester Pinchot, general op-
position 60 MIR. Pinchot's l has dis
appeared said Mr.. Taft. And the
great body OF American people recognize
tho benefit of the reform in reference 10
forestry"
Speaking Of the regulation OF pri-
vately owned lands the President said
il should be taken up by the United
States. He said Congress should do
something 20 relieve the investors %.
Colorado and other States who had gone
INTO certain irrigation projects with fhe
expectation that the Government woulo
so ahead with the work.
To Apply for Relief.
Il think ii wise" ne said. "to apnD
so Congress for relief by rging fh,
passage Of an enabling act which shall
permit the Secretary Of the Interior 4,
issue BONDS i'm the sum OF SI.OO0.000 L,
complete an the projects projected.
These bonds should be redeemed from
the money paid into the reclamation
funds after the completion OF the pro.
poets.
-'Thc mere fact that the Reclamatio
ServiCe has zone ahead too fast ough
not to prevent Congress from Iendin.
its aid TO overcome the difficulty. ",
should know better I'm the future treat.
went Of the subject and i'm the futur,
use Of the 100000 fund how to avoic