Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1909-12-03
BALL|NGER REPORTS.
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
TELLS OF WORK OF HIS
DEPARTMENT.
STILL AFTER LAND THIEVES
Urges Continuation OF Vigorous Prose
outlon and q Reconsideration of the
Public Domain-Issuance OF Recla-
nation Fund Bonds AdvIsed-The
Indian Bureau.

nation Fund Bonds Advised-Ihe |
indian Bureau.
Washington, Nov 2s.-The annual
report TO the president of Richard A.
Ballinger, secretary of the interior,
was made public to-day and makes in
teresting reading. The report covers
a portion of the time under the ad-
ministration of James R. Garfield, and
Mr.. Ballinger gives him credit for his
earnest and efficient services.
Secretary Ballinger comments on
the old public land statutes, and con-
tinues:
"The liberal and rapid disposition of
the public lands under these statutes
and the lax methods Of administration
which for a long time prevailed nat
urally provoked the feeling that the
public domain was legitimate prey for
the INSCRIPTIONS and that it was no
crime to violate or circumvent the
land laws. 1t is to be regretted that
we, as a nation, were SO tardy to real
ize the Importance of preventing so
large a measure of our natural re-
sources passing into the hands of land
pirates and spectators, with no view
to development looking to the national
welfare.
Must Continue Prosecutions.
"It may be safely said that millions OF
acres of timber and other lands have
been unlawfully obtained, and 1t is
also true that actions to recover such
lands have in most instances long
since been barred by the statute of
r1rfn oxUoRpninQ
: to our wasteful course came under
your predecessors administration. The
bold and vigorous prosecutions OF land
; frauds through Secretaries Hitchcock
and GARFIELD, have restored salutary
: respect for the law, and the public
mind has rapidly grasped the impor-
> lance of safeguarding the further dis
position of our national resources In
I the public land in the interest of the
public good as against private greed
: Notwithstanding this, 1t is necessary
to continue with utmost vigor, through
all available sources, the securing OF
0 information of violations Of the public
land laws and to follow such viola
lions with rigid prosecutions.
: Use Private Enterprise.
q | III ILLS p1CSChb PohNy Va SOASNA' N-e
4 the natural resources of the public do
i main, while development is the key
= note, the best thought of the day Ii
~ not that development shall be by ma
"a tional agencies, but that wise utiliza
10 ton shall be secured through private
enterprise under national supervision
and control Therefore, If materia
: progress is to be made in securing tn
: best use of our remaining public lands
= congress must be called upon to enac
- remedial legislation"
Mr.. Ballinger then gives in detai
~ his recommendations for the classif
7 cation of public lands, and the fef
20 lures of a measure which he advise
: for the direction of the disposal c
"a water power sites.
The Reclamation Service.
Concerning the reclamation SERVES
the report says in part:
I'm view of the Importance of
~ speedy completion of existing project
of and their proper extension, and of tn
ed necessity in 1912 of an adjustment b
rs tween the states by which the mao
re portion of the funds arising from II
III sale of public lands within each stat
D.. and territory shall have been e
an pended so far as practicable with
OF such state or territory, and in vie
re- of the Importance of making ben
An ficial use of waters already a
OF propriated or capable of appropri
MS ton to which rights may be 10
m for nonuse, | believe an urgent a
di- peal should be made to congress
OBJ authorize the issuance of certificat
The of indebtedness, or of bonds again
lst- the reclamation fund, to an aggrega
Der of not exceeding $30,000.000, or
OF much thereof as may be needed"
vas acknowledgements of the
vas dian bureau is in progress, says N
as Ballinger. and he recommends tn
oil the Indian warehouses at New Yo1
Chicago, Omaha, st. Louis and 81
Francisco be closed as soon as pr
sible. more advanced policy
the specting the maintenance, impro'
per. ment and operation of the Yelowsto
the and Yosemite national parks is urg
ret on the government.
ght |
the Couldn't uncoupIe.