Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-06
Reorganization of Service Dis
CuSsed with Taft on Visit
to Beverly
SECRETARY WILL NOT RESIGN
Tells About the $1,O00,000 Pro-
vided to Protect the I'M
periaI Valley
Associated Press1

BEVERLY, July 5.-The reorganiza-
tion OF the reclamation service was dis
cussed today at three-hours confer
ence between President Taft and Sec
retary Ballinger. Although no official
information could be obtained, it was
reported that the future plans for recla-
nation do not include retention of
Frederick K. Newell as the director of
that service. Mr.. Ballinger would not
discuss this phase in any way 1t is
known, however, that the secretary has
long regarded Mr.. Newell as inimical
to his plans for the reclamation SER
vice. Mr.. Newell has openly opposed
Mr.. Ballinger, and Mr.. Ballinger in
turn has publicly stated that he did not
regard. Mr.. Newell as the man for the
place. Just when and how Mr.. Newell
Is going could not be learned.
Secretary Ballinger left for Washing
ton tonight. He will remain there a
few days and then start on a long trip
through the west, during which he will
visit a number Of Indian reserves and
probably look over some of the recla-
nation projects now under way. His
trip, including brief rest at his home
In Seattle, will occupy from six weeks
to two months.
When Secretary Ballinger alighted
from the train here this morning he
was met by the usual crop of resigna-
ton rumors.
''I am not a gutter" he said, land
never have been. I did not bring a
resignation with me and will not leave
one"
After he had lunched and conferred
with the president Mr.. Ballinger was
told of a later rumor that he would re-
sign after the special congressional in
vestigating committee had made its
report. The only suggestion of resig-
nation that came in reply was the Sec
retary's smile.
"I am in this hgfit and am going to
see it though" he said.
The recent withdrawal of water pow
er sites, phosphate and petroleum lands
by the president, covering more than
81, ,000, 600 acres in various states and the
two territories. were discussed with the
president by Secretary Ballinger.
CONSERVATION POLICY
Dealing with these lands" said the
secretary, 1--WE will continue the con-
servation policy in every detail. At
the same time the president proposes
that an opportunity for development
shall be given. The first work before
us is the proper classification of the
lands. This will have to be done by the
geological survey, and the undertaking
is a big one. Once the classification is
completed we will he confronted by the
task of getting special legislation
through congress for the disposition of
the lands on a fair basis. This legis-
lation will require lot of thought and
study. The problem is intricate"
Secretary Ballinger said tonight that
he had prepared the instructions for
the board of engineers appointed by
the president to pass on the irrigation
projects that are to be completed under
the $2O0O0,0O0 issue Of certificates of
Indebtedness.
WILL NOT WAIT
It will not be necessary for him to
wait in Washington for the five engi-
neer officers to assemble there, as As
sistant Secretary Pierce will go over
the work with the engineers.
Mr.. Ballinger made 1t plain that
while the army engineers will have the
saw as to what projects shall be COM
pleted, the actual work Of construc-
ton will be done by the field force of
the reclamation service under the SUI
pervision of the director
General William T. Marshall, the
engineer officer appointed last week as
consulting engineer to the reclamation
service, will of course be an important
factor in the work.
IMPERIAL VALLEY
AS to the expenditure of the $1,000,-
900 fund placed at the disposal of the
president to protect the Imperial valley
in Southern California from the Colo
RADIO river, Secretary Ballinger said
that all immediate danger seemed to
have PASSED and engineers would be
sent to report on the situation before
any work was ordered. An effort will
be made to devise permanent protec-
ton of the banks of the Colorado and
the Laguna dam.
In addition to Secretary Ballinger
the president had as callers this after
noon Paymaster General Whlpple of
the army, Assistant Secretary of the
Navy Beekman Winthrop and Repre-
sentative John Dwight of New York,
the Republican "whip" of the house
Mr.. Winthrop had a number of de-
tails of the navy department to take
up with the president. Representative
and Mrs. Dwight are on long motor
tour and the representative merely