The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-05-28

Under the directions of President
Roosevelt about 100,000000 acres of
public lands were withdrawn from en-
try, because those acres were supposed
TO contain minerals or TO comprise the
locations Of valuable water powers.
Secretary of the Interior Ballinger re-
stored several millions of those acres
to the public domain and made them
available to settlers. This aroused a
storm of protest from divers quarters.
One of the protests, voiced in a maya
zine article, was from a man who was
White House favorite in the Roose-
welt days. He is now put on a level
with many others, seeking information
at the White House Offices, and resents
the discrimination of former presl-
Dental favors.
President Taft. stirred by this and
other protests, made earnest inquiry of
Secretary Ballinger about the restora-
tions to the public domain. He gave
direction that no further restorations
be made. In the meantime, the Presi-
dent looked the matter up very care
fully. He studied the law of the sub
iect and came to the conclusion that
Secretary Ballinger was proceeding
properly in restoring the lands, al
though it is probable that no further
reservations will be made. 1t is known
authoritatively, that President Taft
convinced himself that the Withdrawals
of public lands proceeded under Presi-
dent Roosevelt unlawfully. There must
be surveys of public lands, showing the
presence of minerals or of water pow
ers, before the government has the
| right, as expressed in the enactments
of Congress, to make such Withdrawals.
President Taft inquired diligently as
! to whether the water power trust was
| likely to be able to make locations in
| the meantime to the detriment of the
people. He knew that many of these
power sites had been acquired in the
Sierras, but realized that in some
states, like Colorado, the development
of such properties by capitalists was
popular. He satisfied himself that it
was unlikely the public interests would
suffer by the delay of surveys and ac-
cordingly is holding up the hands of
his Secretary of the Interior, because
he thinks his Secretary of the Interior
had been acting within the law. In
the meantime he has put the geological
survey to locating mineral lands and
public domain. When such mineral
mined they will be withdrawn prompt
ly from entry.
There can be no question whatever
about the difference between the Taft
and Roosevelt policies with Congress
They are not the same and in all prob
ability will lead to different ends. The
President will not swing a big stick
over the Senate or the House He in
sists on making his wishes known to
those two legislative bodies. Then Sen
ate and House must go ahead with
their duties, legislate in their wisdom
and the President will thereupon exer-
else his judgment about approving OF
vetoing their work. Time and again
during the eight tempestuous weeks OF
the extra session, the President has
been appealed to to help out in some
insurgent movement. He has steadily
declined. In such cases President
Roosevelt often helped out the insur
gents and aided in kindling a fire
under the House and Senate leaders
That was what caused so many and
fierce quarrels between the President
and Congress, during the Roosevelt ad
ministrations. Mr.. Roosevelt was able
to win out over Congress, because he
was constantly waging campaigns be
fore the people for their approval OF
what he was doing.
President Taft is anxious for down
ward revision of the tariff. He stands
pledged to it, according to the popular
view, although the Senate leaders, head
ed by Senator Aldrich, announce thai
there is no pledge to revise downward
Mr.. Taft instituted vigorous cam
paign for revision in the interests OF
the consumer, before he was inaugural
ed. He met with Ways and Means
Republicans in the early winter, dur
ing brief trip to Washington. But
he ultimately made peace with Speaker
Cannon and the House bill was moi
altogether satisfactory to revision ad
vocates. Beyond question, the Presi
dent could have forced a measure OF
revision downward, over what the
House and Senate have accomplished
if he had kept laundering at theil
leaders. He has made it plain thai
when the bill is through Senate an6
House he intends to have few plair
words with the conferees and to in
| SlSI upon Inc IcltHlioh VI thc bCohSSs
rates voted by the House and also by
the Senate He feels that, there being
but few men on the conference, h
can work more effectually with them
The President probably will be able t.
accomplish much in that direction. TIL
fact remains however, that very man.
items will be out of the jurisdiction
J of the conferees altogether, becaus'
Senate and House will have adopte'
the identical figures. Then it will b
, difficult to control conferees, once tn
bill has passed the Senate, where tn
great ordeal of high or low rates wa
inevitably to come.
5 The President has gathered. abou
him as rule, quite a different elias
of men than President Roosevelt hao
He is appointing men to Office, bette
? known for ability. They have not a
t ways been the men that the radios
r west. as the term is used this side O
: the Mississippi River altogether al
: proves. The radical men say these al
I pointees, those, for instance, who hav
t been in the employ of corporations
e bova haap associated with CORPORATION