The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-13
Secretary of the Interior Makes
Address at Portland on Prac-
tical Conservation.
HAS REBUKE FOR THOSE
WHO STIR UP STRIFE
Believes Lands Intended for
People. Not Meant to Be
Locked Up.

PORTLAND, Orc, Aug. 12.-Secretary
of the Interior r. A Ballinger was the
guest of honor and principal speaker at
a MONDAY banquet at the rooms Of the
Portland Commercial club today Tho
secretary's subject was Practical Con-
servation." Secretary Ballnger depre-
Gated 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 residents OF
that territory to import tnesr coal at
great cost from tho States and from for
eign countries and favored opening for
settlement public land capable of giving
strength and permanent prosperity TO the
country In agriculture, commerce and In
dustry.
Secretary Ballinger said:
What Is there about 1t 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
national we'll being. The demagogue, the
fanatic, the sentimentalist, the faddist
are crusading under the banner OF con-
serVation mainly because II Is popular
anO nOlQ5 Inc alteutlOn OF the nOuTs lucir
energies might be equally employed on
any other human virtue with the same
argument, but such reformers arc more
like torrents, generally doing more dam
useful stream.
Questions the Results.
Beyond the matter Of agitation what
has the doctrinnire accomplished, unless
II be the hysteria Of conservation Has
he suggested any practical methods by
way of legislation for disposng of the re-
meinder OF the public lands so as TO give
the public better safeguards against eX-
listing abuses? The fact Is all tho sub
stantial progress that has been made In
this direction has been enacted by the
last congress as the result Of recommends
tions initiated by this administration"
Mr.. Ballinger said that extreme conser-
walton theories in their last analysis mean
government ownership and operation He
said they proceeded on the theory that the
states are not to he trusted to take care
OF their natural resources. He said that
because some Of the states have been
wasteful or their officers corrupt. II does
not follow that no state can safely man
age Its own affairs In this particular. He
said that in view OF the fact that the
states own and control the water neceS-
sary for development 1t would seem that
the most feasible and practical methods
would be to transfer these sites to the
states under proper limitations to pre-
vent injurious monopoly. Ee declared
that the contention that the interior de-
partment may. under any existing law,
exact q charge from the public for the
use of these power sites is utterly without
foundation.
Needs Of Alaska.
Taking up the subject of Alaska coal
lands he called attention to the fact that
with 1900 square miles OF known coal
area. containing an estimated amount of
10 900, ,0o0.0 600 tons. some OF tho very best
quality. Alaska buys most OF her coal
from British Columbia. and the United
States navy on the Pacihc obtains It's
Virginia at a cost TO the government OF
81 per ton, OF which SIS per ton is repre-
sented by the freight charges. II the
mines of Alaska were In operation coal
could he laid down at Portland at from
So TO 81 per ton. He said Alaska never
has had adequate laws to cover the dispo-
sition Of her public lands. To make them
adequate. however; Is one OF the ne, burdens
less be met and solved as other equally
important duties have been solved by 1t,
Secretary Ballingcr declared TINT he is
opposed to withholding any lands In the
strength and permanent prosperity to the
country in agriculture, commerce or in
dustry.
Logical Legal Argument.
''The department of tho interior is one
Of the executive branches of the govern
ment. lnSlltOlcu DN law hHus
necessarily administered under the law"
said Mr., Ballinger. THE public domain
was left by the constitution 10 the dis
position of congress. and congress has
seen 1T to authorize the interior depart
ment, undor legislative limitations. to dis
pose of tho public domain. Therefore any
disposition sought TO be made can be
made only in view of the law and within
the law. All questions OF policies, all
criticisms relating 10 all proper disposition
of puolic lands. must necessarily be re-
ferred to and controlled by the lawmaking
body established by the constitution. II
has become n practice with many people,
either through ignorance OF these condi-
lions or a disposition to ignore them. to
charge the Interior department with the
responsibility of the disposition of the
public domain regardless OF its duty to
obey and keep within the statutes Of con-
gress.
standing securely upon my conscious
rectitude in the enforcement OF the laws
and regulations as laid down by congress
in these particulars. the criticisms of the
ignorant or the malicious of the conduct
or the interior department are impotent
and Will fall OF interrupting the regular
and orderly course OF conduct laid down
by the law for the administration of the
public domain,