Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-15
PRESIDENT MAY BE FORCED TO
STEP IN AND SETTLE INDIAN
FOREST CONTROVERSY.
"eoH" STARTS SOMETHING.
WHEN HE FILES A PROTEST
Interior and Agricultural Departments
at Outs Over Management Of Forest
Reserves Belonging to Indians-vis-
orous Explanation Made When One
10 Demanded.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Washington, Sept. Ex-senator La
Toilette recently took a hand in the
controversy about conservation, by
making a direct complaint to President
Taft that the work of caring proper
ly for the forest areas within the Wis
consn Indian reservations, had been
dropped. AS a result, President Taft
has secured from the interior depart
ment an explanation which is regarded
as very accurate forecast of the de-
fence that department will make of its
general policy toward conservation ac-
tivit.eS.
Not only does the interior depart
ment defend its own course, but it in
dulges something very much like di-
rect attack on the business methods of
the forest service of the department of
agriculture. 1t is not yet possible to
learn whether the issue between the
two departments has been raised. in
this connection. so broadly and deffn-
itely as to force the executive to take
sides and render any verdict. But it is
very definitely stated that Assistant
Secretary of the Interior Pierce has
gone, very vigorously about the busi-
ness of defending his department, and
that he has not been sparng in his
comment on the busisness methods of
the forest service in handling the In
dian woodlands.
Wisconsin Situation Peculiar.
Senator LaFollette has been a par
tisan of the forest service thruout the
conservation controversy. When he
went back to Wisconsin, after the ad-
journment of congress, he looked into
charges that had been coming to him
about the administration of the Indian
forests, and apparently satisfied him
self that there was ground for COM
plaint.
The Wisconsin situation is peculiar
There is a great Indian population in
the state, and a very large area in
reservations much of it timbered. A
vast aggregate of wealth. in land and
timber. is owned by the Wisconsin In
dians and for many years there have
been constant charges that powerful
numbering interests in the state have
been profiting ~ the privilege of
skimming ne G. n cff the Indian
timber hollfst-S aa II ,st advantageous
terms. Mr. e Is for years
been fs. the Indians,
and has n; legislation.
Under r.i2e, these In
dian fo.. ,s.saSed by the
Pincho. in fashion
highly "a E senator LaFol-
1ette. Bu. - heir Jurisdiction was
49,
dian oflice le Ralger senator found
occasion f. cnlol.,;at He didn't think
the interss ; of the Indians were being
properly ,5alcd after, and beyond that
he didn't find evidence that the pub
lies concern about forest conservation
and perpetua.on was getting enough
attention. That was the substance Of
the complaint he transmitted to Pres
ident Taft
Explanation is Vigorous.
A specific case being presented,
which invited a showing of the merits
as between the forest and the interior
services, the latter promptly took up
the gage. Secretary Ballinger being alb
sent, Assistant Secretary Pierce re-
ceived President Taft's demand for an
explanation and prepared an answer
t. ii.
The president wanted to know If 1t
were true that the Indian office had
ceased to cooperate with the forest
officials in caring for the Indians for
ests, and if so, why? Mr. Pierce's re-
ply, which is understood to be detailed
and specific, has just been. placed in
the hands of the president.N
The assistant secretary denies vigor-
ously that the Indian bureau has aban-
doned the policy of protection Of the
Indian interests or of conservation of
their forests. On the contrary, he un-
dertalSes in detail to prove that it has
provided better and more efficient
system of protection and conservation
than the forest officials ever had work.
ed out, and at less expense
1t is shown that the expense Of con-
Quoting this service for the benefit of
the Indian forests has always been
charged against the Indian funds or
property. When the Indian forests
were under the forestry bureau, experts
named by that bureau were in charge
Of them. Later, when jurisdiction of
these forests was transferred to the
Interior department. that department
retained the very same force of forest
experts that had been organized by the
forest service, merely making them re-
sponsible to the interior instead of the
agricultural department. They con-
tinued to be paid from the Indian
funds.
Mr. Pierce, 1t Is stated, charges that
the forest service was responsible for
lavish and extravagant expenditure of
the Indian money in administering
these forests. Costly and unnecessary
improvements are alleged to have been
made, with the result that the Indian
funds were depleted and the Indians
themselves much disafected. More
over. It is charged that no satisfactory
record has been kept OF these expendi-
lures. The Indians have been com
planning about the waste of their
money, and the most definite infor-
nation the interior officials have as to
details Of the expenditures. comes from
this correspondence with the Indians.
Hot Rejoinder Forthcoming.
Officials in position to have some