New-York tribune., 1909-12-30
TO SAVE RESOURCES
Mr.. TAFT FOR ACTS.
Belieses Results WM Be Com
Dlefe 4nsscer to Critics.

Washington. Dec es.-"Acts rather than
declarations" is the way I'm which Presi-
dent Taft is reported to have described re-
Gently TO callers his programme as TO the
conservation of natural resources. The
President il is said. has declared that
when the present session Of Congress ends
he will be able TO point 20 the first prac-
tfcal conservation statutes ever placed
upon the law books of the nation as his
answer to he criticism which has been
directed at the White House
Without waiting for the Ballinger-Pin-
chot investigation. Mr.. Taft will begin the
preparation of his special message on con-
serValion, and he has received assurances
from both houses Of Congress that, while
some trouble may be expected in the lower
branch. the legislation he may suggest
viii be enacted into law before adjourn
ment. The President is represented as
taking the position that there is nothing
in the Bsilinger-Pinchot dispute bearing on
his legislative programme. and he will pro-
ceeed regardless OF il.
In the preparation OF his special message
the President will have the cooperation of
Secretary Ballinger and Senator Nelson, of
Minnesota chairman OF the Senate Com
mitfee on Public Lands. Il is asserted that
in the constructive work Of needed legisla-
ton the President has had to depend al
most wholly on Mr.. Ballinger who has
heen al work for several months on the
draft of proposed statutes that will solve
the problem Of practical conservation and
embody the Presidents views on this sub
,ect These proposed new laws are ready
be sumitted 10 the committees of the
senate and House along with the special
message. the preparation OF which the
President will begin SOON
Senator Jones and Representative
Humphrey OF Washington. who will in
froduce in the Senate and House. repec-
lively. the resolutions calling for a joint
committee TO investigate the Ballinger-
Pinchot controversy, had a conference with
the President to-day. The resolutions will
he introduced on Wednesday. January :.
and il is believed that they will immedi-
stely he adopted and the joint committee
viii get 10 work at the earliest possible
moment Senator Jones said to-day that
the investigating committee might consist
Of any number from eleven 10 fifteen mem
bers Of the two houses of Congress
TIRED OF DENUNCIATION.
Those who have talked with President
Taft on the subject describe him as be-
lieving that he will best prove his friend
ship for the Roosevelt policies" of con-
seTgstiou by putting laws on the statute
books that viii actually carry these policies
into effect. Mr.. Taft takes the position, il
l. said, that the campaign of education
carried On by President Roosevelt was COM
pete and there is no longer any need of
exhorting the people as TO the necessity OF
conserving natural resources. He is fur
ther represented as believing that the peo-
pie are perhaps a little tired of indiscrim-
nate denunciations and CONGRATULATIONS,
and are ready for action.
Little or 10 help, those close to the ad-
ministration say. has come to the President
from the many who have joined in the con-
iroYersy in the role OF critics, and it is
said that he feels not little put out with
the various bodies and conventions which
have been free with praise and condemna-
lion. but have offered no concrete sugges-
tions looking 10 a solution of one of the
greatest problems confronting the admins
trarion. The President feels that .hese
conventions might better have devoted
themselves TO discussion of ways and
means Of conserving the resources and dis
posing OF the public lands under proper
rules and remuneration than 10 denuncia-
tory speeches and resolutions.
The real problem to be solved is how best
TO dispose Of the public lands containing
water power sites, coal and phosphates
such lands have been Withdra wn from
entry under the general land laws, hut
they cannot be held indefinitely. and there
Is no specific law governing their sale or
lease. 1t is generally admitted that the
resources must be developed and that coal
and phosphates must be taken out by pri-
tate capital, and yet there must at the
came time be safeguards against rnonopolv