Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-09-29
TAFT CONVERT
TO IRRIGATION
BOND ISSUE
ADMINISTRATION POLICY
ON RECLAMATION DEFINED
viii Urge Congress to Authorize
Loan of Ten Million to Com
pIete Projects Already Under
Construction.

IBy Morning journal Special Leased Wire
Spokane, wash, Sept. 2S-Prcsidcn
Taft delivered today his long antici
patcd speech on the conservation o
natural resources ana outlined the
policy of his administration ON this
subject
Mr.. Taft broadly took the stand
that while the present administration
is pledged to follow the policies of Mr.
Roosevelt such Il pledge does not in
volvc him in any obligation to carry
out these policies without congrcssion'
al authorization. The president added
however. that he would take every
step and exert every influence upon
congress to enact legislation which
shall best sutscrrc the purposes and
requirements OF the situation.
President Tart created Il great deal
Of enthusiasm when he announced
that he would urgr on congress the
necessity of authorizing the secretary
of the interior to issue SlQ,0UO,O00 OF
bonds for the completion Of irrigation
projects in the west on which work
has been suspended because of lack
Of fnnde and the discovery that the
nroioctore i'm their enthusiasm did not
closely observe the limitations Of the
reclamation act
Hardbhips have been worked ON
many settlers through the suspcnsiou
of work ana senator Borah of Idaho
ana other senator's ana representatives
have urecd on the presidcnt that IA
bond issue was the only way by which
insticn could ne done
Mr.. TAFT declared today that con
prcss aid NOT intend that ths Govern
mant should undertake. projects that
could not be currently paid for out
of the proceeds of the sales of public
lands but added that he has been
immersed duritfa his visit 10 the Wes;
of the necessity for Immediate relief
II was here in Spokane little while
ago that the National Irrigation con-
gress met ana the Balnger- Pinehot
controversy arose. This controversy
wav fostercd bv friends ana adhere
nts of the two officials. but not by
the officials themselves.
Secretary Ballinger was criticised
nv Former Governor Pardce Of Cali
having recommended and secured the
reoncninr for entry lands containing
water nouer sites which had been
Withdrawn by Mr.. Roosevelt 1t was
Inserted that a "wator power trust
had been formed TO take up all of
these lands ana that the strong con-
,eryation polic, begun bv Mr.. PIN
chot with the slpport of Mr.. Roosc-
yclt and practically been abandoned.
President Tart today gave credit to
both Mr. Pinchot and Mr.. Ballingcr.
He referred 10 the wonderful work of
Mr.. Pinchot and said that while that
work had brought denunciatlon at
first il was now generally realized
that the reforms inaugurated by Mr.
pinchot were not only necessary, but
should have, been begun ten years ago.
The president defended the reopen
ing of lands bv the present admiuist-
ration as a compliance with existing
law. ana declared mat Mr. Balling-
cr's ,Ir,,s are in strict accord with
thosc of thc administration and that |
ne has been helpful and viii use his |
powcrfuu Influence as secretary of the |
interior to suOport the president in |
securing congressional action that will |
put tho Roosevelt policy Of conserva- |
ton on a rirmer basis. AIR. Taft stated |
that the .ooo. 900 acres Of water pow
,r lands Withdrawn from general entry |
by tho last administration has been |
reduced 10 450 900 acres under tho !
present administration The latter |
however. he pointed out. con-
tain more ascortaincd mower sites than !
did IN. original Withdrawals.
Tho nrcsident further stated that it |
must h.. understood that these with
drowal. arc only temporary to per-
nit congress- to act on a recommon-
dation no viii max, that tn. govern
mcnt be authorized 10 grant or lease
po,,sr sites to private concerns to be
devc1nn.d under pcnoral government
control and suucr,-ision If congress
fails ,o act upon This recommendation