The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-08-20

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Influence Legislation When
Next Session Opens.
Washington. Aug. 20.-The Pinchot-
Ballinger controversy has now taken
on such proportions that it promises
to force the next regular session Of
congress to give nearly all it's atten-
tion to the problems surrounding the
conservation OF natural resources.
So many issues of fact are involved
that 1t is not unlikely congress will
appoint a joint commission to make
an investigation. A new and sud-
def Importance is given by this con-
troversy to the senate committee on
conservation OF natural resources,
which was created at the opening of
tho special session. 1t was deemed
at the time that the committee would
be more or less ornamental But it
now promises to become ono OF the
foremost committees OF congress-.
1t is headed by Senator Dixon, OF
Montana. and has on 1t at least two
or three senators who are hostile to
the Pinchot policies. Tho outcome
of the Spokane congress of irrigation
showed the great bulk of the men at
the meeting are sQuarely behind Pin
chot and Newell. the heads of the for
estry bureau and forest reclamation
service.
Another Congress.
1t is now talked that another great
meeting on conservation will be held
In Washington early this coming win
ter for the purpose OF impressing on
congress the legislation that will
leave no loopholes open to the robbing
OF the public domain of its water
powers and looting 1t Of other re-
sources. Such a meeting would no
doubt bring together the governors of
many states, members of state con-
servation committees and others in
terested in the extension of conser-
walton.
1t Is generally felt in official cir
cles here that President Taft will be
compelled to take hold of the contro-
versy in order to dispose of It in or
der to prevent 1t from running to de-
moralizing lengths. The president
would, no doubt, prefer to look over
the ground to some extent in the west
himself on his western trip in decid-
ing the case. But it would not be
feasible to do this.
An interesting suggestion made by
a high government official as to the
controversy is that President Taft
may call both Ballinger and Pinchot
before him to ascertain fully their
points of difference, and then give
Judgment and tell each man how far
he shall go and shall not. But this
is not the view generally taken.
One Must Go.
In most quarters it is the belief
that it is impossible for both Ballin-
ger and Pfnchot to remain in the pub
lie service. When congress meets in
December It will have lot of infor-
nation from the departments as to
the conservation of the natural re-
sources. But 1t will have nothing by
first hand. In view Of the Importance
of the exchange which is talked of on
water powers, coal lands and the like
1t would not be at all strange If there
should be strong demand for an I'm
mediate inquiry.
1t is recalled that congress has al
ready before 1t report from the
bureau of commerce which shows
what the so-called water power trust
is doing. President Roosevelt SUBJ
mitted to congress special message
in which he dwelt strongly on the
action Of congress to curb private in
terests in their efforts to grab valu-
able water powers and effect mon
opolistio combinations.
President Taft is familiar with the
allegations as to the extent of the wa
ter power grabs and the efforts at
monopoly in that direction made by a
few great financiers. No reason ex-
lists to believe that he intends to ig-
more these facts or fail to make use
of them for the purpose of getting
legislation, although he may prefer to
go about the matter more slowly than
Mr.. Pinchot in the matter.
It is understood the president has
been apprised of the Alaska coal land
transactions, which are we'll night cer-
tain to become of the utmost import
ance In the row between Pinchot and
Ballinger. The president is said to
be aware that great efforts were made
to hasten the patenting of these coal
lands. The question is who was
back of these efforts to expedite the
coal land transactions, and IL any one
In the department of the interior is
connected with this. The lands in
volve property worth a quarter of a
billion dollars, and so many charges
are banded about that it seems i'm
possible to ignore them.
For the present the patenting of
these coal lands has been held up,
and hearing will soon be held at
Seattle or juneau
WILL NOT BE WIDOWED
Takes No Stock in husbands Note
Telling Of His Death.