Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-08-13
Depreoiates "Hysteria and Ex-
element With Which Subject
Has Been Surrounded.
AGAINST LOCKING UP LANDS
Would Open for Settlement Public
Land Capable of Being Used
For Agriculture.

| interior r. A Ballnger was the guest
Of honor and principal speaker at a
| MONDAY banquet at the rooms of the
/ Portland Commercial club today. The
secretary's subject was Practical Con-
| servation." secy. Ballinger deprecated
the "hysteria and excitement" with
which, he said, the subject Of conserva-
ton had been surrounded; declared his
opposition to the locking up Of the
Alaska coal lands compelling the resi-
dents OF that territory to import their
/ coal at great cost from the states and
from foreign countries and favored
| opening for settlement public land cap
able Of giving strength and permanent
prosperity TO the country in agriculture,
commerce and industry
Secy, Ballinger said:
BALLINGER's SPEECH.
what Is there about II that calls for
excitement. bitterness Of spirit and con-
tention? Nothing. The explanation Of
popular excitement Is in the fact that
many people have been led to believe
that conservation holds the secret OF
our national well being. The dema-
gogue, the fanatic. the sentlmentalist.
the faddist are crusading under the
banner of conservation mainly because
II is popular and holds the attention Of
the hour. Their energies might be
equally employed on any other human
virtue with the same argument, but
such reformers are more like torrents
generally doing more damage by floods
than by the steady flow OF usefui
stream.
Beyond the matter Of agitation what
has the doctrinaire accomplished, I'M
less II be the hysteria Of conservation?
Has he suggested any practical meth
DDS by way Of legislation for dispos-
ing Of the remainder OF the public
lands so as 10 give the public better
safeguards against existing abuses?
The fact Is all the substantial progress
that has been made In this direction
has been enacted by the last Congress
as the result Of recommendations In
itiated by this administration"
MEANS GOVERNMENT OWNER
SHIP.
Mr.. Ballnger said that extreme con-
servation theories in their last analysis
mean government ownership and opera
ton. He said they proceeded on the
theory that the states are not TO be
trusted TO take care OF their natural
resources He said that because some
Of the states have been wasteful or
their officers corrupt. it does not fol-
low that no state can safely manage
it's own affairs in this particular. lie
said that In view OF the fact that the
states own and control the water neces-
sary for the development 1t would seem
that the most feasible and practical
methods would be to transfer these
sites to the states under proper limita-
tons TO prevent injurious monopoly.
He declared that the contention that
the interior department may under any
existing law. exact a charge from the
public for the use OF these power sites
is utterly without foundation.
Taking up the subject of Alas ka coal
lands ne called attention to the fact that
with 200 square miles Of known coal
area, containing an estimated amount
Of 10. 900 0O0, 600 tons, some OF the very
best quality Alaska buys most OF mel
coal from British Columbia, ana the
United states navy on the Pacific oo-
tains It's coal from the Pocahontas fields
OF West Virginia at a cost TO the gov
eminent OF 81 per ton, OF which 80 per
ton Is represented by the freight charg-
tn IL the mines of Alaska were in OPP
Grafton coal could be laid down at
Portland at from SO to 81 per ton lie
said Alaska never has had adequate
laws to cover the disposition OF her
public lands To make them adequate
however. is one Of the burdens OF this
administration, which will doubtless oe
met and solved as other equally I'M
portant duties have been solved by H.
Secy. Ballinger declared that he Is
opposed 10 Withholding any lands in the
public domain that are capable Of Civ
ing strength and permanent prosperity
to the country In agriculture commerce
or industry.
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
''The department OF the interior is one
OF the executive branches OF the gov
ernment Instituted by law and, there
fore, necessarily administered under the
law" said Mr.. Ballinger. The pub
lie domain was left by the Constitution
70 the disposition of Congress and
Congress has seen fit to authorize the
interior department. under legislative
Limitations, 20 dispose Of the public do
main. Therefore any disposition sought
20 be made can be made only In view
OF the law and within the law All
questions Of policies. all criticisms re-
lating to all proper disposition OF public
lands must necessarily be referred
TO and controlled by the lawmaking
body established by the Constitution.
II has become a practise with many
people. either through ignorance OF
these conditions or n disposition TO ig-
more them. 20 charge the interior de-
partment with the responsibility Of the
disposition Of the public domain regard
less Of its duty 10 obey and keep within
the statutes OF Congress.
"Stand1-g securely upon my con-
science rectitude in tho enforcement Of
the laws and regulations as laid down
by Congress IN these particulars, the
criticisms Of the ignorant or the mali
cious OF the conduct 81 the interior de-
partment arc impotent and viii fail
Of interrupting the regular and orderly
course OF conduct laid down by the
law for the administration of the pub
lin domain"
Try our table d'hote dinner. Ship
restaurant Saltair. 81.