Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-04
REFUSES TO EXPLAIN REMARK
He Also Declines to Discuss Contro-
versy Over Power Sites.
CHIEFS ARE PREPARING REPORTS
When All Are in Matter Will Be Sub
mitted to President.
TALKS OF A TRIP TO WEST
lie visited Twelve Reclamation rro-
jects and VIII Inspect Others
in Southwest Late in the
Month.

WASHINGTON, Sept. S-Tncidentally,"
said Secretary Ballnger at the close of
the first day after his hurried trip from
the Pacific coast incidentally, intend
to kill some snakes"
The remark was made in response TO
questions relative to the Ballinger- Pnchot
controversy regarding water power plants,
the Cunningham-A Alaskan coal entries and
other conservation matters, and the illus
tration used by the secretary was drawn
from an incident In his own life when some
twenty years ago at Medicine Lodge, he
found the night camp infested with rat
tiers. He then said: Boys, before
sleep 1 propose to kill some snakes" and
the fact is recorded that he did Kill about
dozen Of the venomous reptiles before
stretching his blanket over the buffalo
grass for a nights rest.
Mr.. Ballinger refused to explain the pur-
port Of mis- remark and declined to fur
ther discuss the matters in controversy
between his department and the forestry
bureau.
"Manifestly," he said, 1T would be inn
proper for me to talk on this subject. The
heads of the various divisions of the de-
partments which are involved in this con-
troversy have all prepared their reports,
and 1 expect to submit the whole question
to the president at an early date. l could
not, therefore, properly go into the sub
ject at this time further than to say my
previous knowledge of the situation, with
the information l have derived today from
the reports of Messrs. Pierce Dennet and
Schwartz justifies the statement that this
department has nothing to fear from the
closest scrutiny of the conduct OF its Of
ficials."
VIII Prepare Report.
Mr.. BalIinger said he did not know just
when he would go to Beverly, but pre-
sumed he would be there early next week.
He spent much of the day in conference
! with Assistant Secretary Pierce. Commis
sioner bennett Mr.. schwartz and Assist
ant Attorney General Lawlor The re-
mainder OF the time was given to the read
ing Of the reports of his subordinates Mr..
Ballinger intimated he might prepare a
report of his own for the purpose. but said
his course in that respect would depend en-
tirely upon the wishes OF the president.
! He had no doubt however, that full
statement of the entire matter would be
given to the public at an early date.
Secretary Ballinger has been absent from
]
greater part of which time has been spent
in a tour of inspection through the west.
He gave careful attention to conditions at
Yellowstone park and went over a large
part of irrigation land, and in the reser-
vation. In order to perform those duties
he was compelled to ride much on horse
back and on one occasion covered eighty
miles in one day while inspecting the Grow
reservation in Montana. After seeing the
president MIR. Ballinger will return to the
west to continue his labors. He probably
will join the president at Denver on the
latters western tour and proceed with him
to Seattle.
BRIIinEer Tells of Trip.
Mr.. Ballinger gave out the following
statement regarding his tour:
with the consent of the president I left
Washington the latter part OF June for
the purpose OF investigating matters affect
ing the Interior department In the west
practically the reclamation projects, In
dian reservations and national parks. as
well as matters pertaining to public lands.
During my absence 1 have been almost
constantly in the field and have visited
twelve reclamation projects. 1 anticipated
the senate committee on irrigation on its
trip through Montana and the state OF
Washington. L expect to return to the
west in the course Of two or three weeks,
making further investigation before finally
returning to Washington. as l have not
yet covered the southwestern states and
territories. When this work u completed
l will be prepared to report to the presi-
dent my views respecting the advancement
Of the public service insofar AS the Tnts-
rior department Is concerned.
THE work OF reolalming the arid and
semi-arid lands as carried on by the ~
clamation service Is Of vast importance
10 the west. l have also been studying
with great interest the conservation OF the
natural resources 30 far as they are at
fected by the Interior department and Il
is my purpose to extend and perfect such
methods as are possible under the law
through the Interior department for the
| conservation Of the resources Of the pub
lie domain"