The Washington times., 1909-05-04
Cabinet Row Grows Out of
Land Office Opposition
to PiRchot.
LAND IS ASKED FOR;
BENNETT SAYS NO
Interior Head Says He Fears For
ester Wants Forest Reserve for
Conservation Scheme.

A dispute between Secretary OF Agrs-
culture Wilson and Secretary OF the IN
terror Ballinger o-!er a question or
courtesy IS we'll as 5Ile Of interpretation
Of the law has been carried 70 President
Taft
A decision either way viii be eonsid-
cred a rebuke TO the Cabinet official
who may lose out, and members Of the
Presidents advisory board are awaiting
the verdict with considerable interest
The controversy ,krcse over the vexa-
tious question of the ~~eveIt conser-
walton policy and the attitude taken by
the GsneraI Land Office. The conser-
vationists, represented by Chief Forester
Pinchot, who is also chairman of the
National Conservation Commission. have
drawn first blood in their war With the
Ballinger idea.
Taft Calls a Halt.
President Taft last week called a halt
in the wholesale restoratlons OF land
being made by Secretary BaIlinger and
directed that 70 more land withdrawn
to conserve the public resources be re-
stored to entry again BaIiinger him
self announced the suden flop in the
policy of his department after a confer
ence at the White House.
The present difficulty is in connectisn
with the withdrawal OF lands needed by
the Forest Service for ranger stations.
and the quarrel IS really between Fred
bennett Commissioner Of the General
Land Office, and Chief Forester Pinchot.
although the correspondence between
these two officials is carried on through
The eliefs of their respective depart
ments- Secretary Bsllinger. who was
eraI Land Once, sides with Denneft-
Neither bennett nor Ballinger are in
sympathy with the methods employed by
the Forest Service 10 develop the cons
ID make any concessions
Enter Clifford Pinchot.
Pinchot. throzgh the Secretary Of A.
ricUlture. asked that certain lands, both
inside and outside national forests IN
the West, be withdrawn from all forms
Of entry for use as stations for the for
est rangers who patrol the national for
esJs- II is necessary to have the land
for this purpose withdrawn, even II IL
be inside a national forest, because the
national forests are subject TO mineral
entries and II was felt that the ranger
stations Should be free from moIestafio1
and beSong absolutely to the Govern
ment-
Heretofore whenever one member OF
the SabineS has requested public lands
Withdrawn for the public service IL has
been done without question. Whenever
the Lighthouse Service or the army
wanted public lard. the Secretary of
Commerce and Labor or the Secretary
of War asked that the land h. with
drawn for the public use and the papers
have always been signed by the Secre-
tary OF the Interior without Skestion.
But this tine there was suag
Balinger sent word to Secretary WI
son that he would not withdraw the
lands requested. holding thN the law
did not permit It
Wilson Resents Attitude.
Pinchot. through Secretary Wilson.
Insisted that such Withdrawals we-s
proper, and Ballinger then wanted to
be assured the land was really needed
for ranger stations He vas afraid.
he said. that the Forest Service might
be attempting 10 conserve the natural
resources, through subterfUge and
pointed out that he suspected that this
had been done once BEFORE. Il was the
first time that one member Of the Cab
met had ever questioned the motives
of another when an Observation-Disclosures
question was at issue.
Secretary Wilson at once appealed 70
President Taft to order Hallinger to
withdraw the lands or TO withdraw
them himself by an Executive order.
AS to the integrity Of his motives.
Secretary Wilson said that he would
permit no man to 80 behind a request
witA a demand that it be shawn to Be
in good faith.
The President has asked both sides
TO submit their cases by briefs.