The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-04-21
Land Conservation Measure Is
Considered Important by
President.
IS OPPOSED BY WESTERNERS
democrats Hope to Elect Successor
to James 5reck Perkins In New
York-senators Are Against
Proposed Treaty with
Liberia.

~ evident that the presidents conser-
Vatlon measures will be beset by
many difficulties, but finally they NAV
see the light of passage. One of the
ollis as prepared authorizes the presi.
uent TO withdraw from the public do.
main any lands which he may deem
advisable In order to protect the
peoples interest. Many of the west.
ern senators and representatives and
goodly number of those from the
east oppose this measure as putting
as they think, too much power into
the hands Of the chief executive.
IL VIII be recognized at once that
the reasons back of the desire to pass
this legislation have for their basis
the wish to find way to prevent val
uaoie water sites and mining lands
from passing into the hands of per-
sons who Intend eventually to turn
them over to the uses of corporations.
which on once securing control might
make millions out of property which
mas cost them comparatively little,
and would then be in a legal position
winch would bulwark them against
any attempt to force them to pay the
original owners. the people, any lease
money.
Only Two Bills Have Chance.
1t was supposed when congress first
came together that several conserva-
ton bills of different kinds would be
introduced and that the president
would insist that all of them be
passed. The length of the presidents
| program and the lackadaisical way
IN which congress has gone at the
work OF the session make it seem GER
tain now that only two conservation
measures have any real chance of pas
sage this year. One of them is the
| withdrawal bill of which mention has
Just been made, and the other is the
measure which looks to the separation
Of the surface lands from the mineral
lands which may lie underneath in or
der that different methods of dispo-
sing OF each may be found. In the
secord conservation measure the idea
Is to secure means by which the gov
eminent can lease the right to de-
velop mines while disposing of the
surface lands for agricultural pur.
poses in any way that may seem best.
While the extreme west and north.
west have been markedly progressive
along the lines Of the Roosevelt en-
ieavor," it is nevertheless true that
n conservation matters the former
| nrncidnnf did ho
pathy and support of men who stood
by him upon all other matters of pub
tic policy to which he gave his adher-
ence. President Taft is most insist.
emit that law which will give him
and succeeding presidents the power
to withdraw public lands when 1t
seems necessary shall be passed at
this session. He Is constantly refer.
ring to the subject when the senate
and house leaders visit him in the
White House and he is telling them
that this bill must go through in vir-
tually the form In which it was drawn
He is trying hard to win the north
west to his views.
Involves BaIlinser Trouble.
1t is perfectly easy to understand
why Mr.. Taft is so anxious that this
particular piece OF legislation shall &c
on the statute books in the form In
which 1t has been sanctioned by him
and by the attorney general and the
secretary of the interior. One of the
first acts of Secretary Ballinger was
to restore some of the lands which
had been withdrawn by his predeces
, sor, Secretary Garfield Mr.. Ballingei
did not believe and does not believe
today that Mr.. Garfield had the lega
authority to withdraw the lands.
AS soon as the new secretary of the
interior had restored part of the
Il public domain which Mr.. Gorfield had
withdrawn, harsh criticism of the act
was made by the principal advocates
of the Roosevelt policies of conserva
ton. Clifford Pinchot and others made
representations to President Taft, anC
= as a result Mr.. Ballinger was com
pelled to withdraw some of the lands
: which he had restored to their former
8 status. 1t Is needless to say that th'
1 secretary of the interior did this VIII
: no very good grace, for by the act HI
:. was compelled to go in the face of hi
: own belief of the rights in the matter
This difficulty over Withdrawals anI
r reservations of the public domain add
!, ed Goals to the already hot fire o
t controversy between Mr. BallingeT
Mr.. Pinchot of the forestry service
and some of the officials of the liant
/, office and reclamation service,
e Hope to Gain Another Seat
T. There has been great activity in tn
" democratic congressional committe
y for the last few days The member
# are taking particularly sharp interes
t, in the outcome of the special eiectio
6 in the Thirty-second congressional ul'
s tr,ct in New York state, where rel
J resentative in congress is to be cleo
ed to fill the vacancy caused uy III
G death of Republican MEMBER Jane
- Breck Perkins. -,
y The Democrats hope TO carry III
' | Iicfript which ]