Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-13
GIVES PRAISE TO
THE TON


Portland, Ore, Aug. 12.-SecretarS
OF the Interior Richard A. Ballingerf
who was the guest Of honor today at a
noon-day luncheon given by the Com
bercial club, addressed his hosts on
the subject Of conservation.
What is there about 1t that calls for
excitement, bitterness of spirit or con-
tention?" Nothing. The explanation
OF popular excitement is in the fact
that many people have been lead to
secret OF our national well being. The
demagogue. the fanatic, the senimen-
talist, the faddist are crusading under
the banner Of conservation. mainly be-
cause it is popular mad holds the at
tention of the hour. Their energies
might be equally employed on any
other human virtue with the same ar
like torrents, generally doing more
damage by floods than by the steady
flow Of useful stream.
Critics Advance no Remedy.
Beyond the matter of agitation
what has the doctrinaire accomplished.
unless 1t lis by the hysteria Of conserva-
ton? Has he suggested any pracneal
methods by way of legisla Ion fcr~fl fltSEs
posing of the remainder Of the public
lands so as to give the public better
safeguards against existing abuses?
The fact Is that all the substantial pro-
gress made in this direction has been
enacted by the last congress as the
result Of recommendations initiated by
this administration"
Secretary Ballinger said that ex-
treme conservation theories In their
last analysts meant government own
ership and operation. He said they
proceed on the theory that the states
are not to be trusted to take care nf
their natural resources. He said that
because some Of the states have been
wasteful or their officers corrupt. It
does not follow that no state can safely
manage it's own affairs in this particu-
lar. He said that In view okatha fact
that the states control and own water
for development 1t would seem that
the most feasible and practical method
would be to transfer these sites to the
states under proper limitations to pre-
vent injurious monopoly. He declared
department may, under any existing
laws, exact charge from the public
for the use of these power sites Is ut
terly without foundation.
Touches Alaskan Question.
Taking up the subject of Alaska
coal lands he called attention to the
fact that with twelve hundred square
miles OF known coal area. containing
an estimated amount Of fifteen billion
tons. some Of the very best quality
Alaska buys most Of her coal from
British Columbia and the United
States navy on the Pacific obtains its
coal from the sPocahontas fields OF
West Virginia at a cost to the govern
ment OF seven dollars per ton Of which
SIS per ton is represented by the freight
charges. If the mines of Alaska were
in operation coal could be laid down at
Portland at from SO to 81 per ton. He
said Alaska never has had adequate
laws to cover the disposition Of her
public landse. To make them adequate.
however, is one of the burdens of this
administration, which Will doubtless be
met and solved as other equally diff
cult duties have been solved by 1t.
Secretary Ballinger declared he is
opposed to withholding any lands In
the public domain that are capable Of
giving strength and permanent pros-
perity to the country In agriculture,
commerce or industry.
"The department Of the interior is
one Of the executive branches Of the
government Instituted by law and.
necessarily administered ltn-
der, the law" said Mr.. Ballinger.
Says Criticisms are Important.
"The public domain was left by the
to the disposition of con-
gress and congress has seen At to
authorize the interior department. un-
der legislative limitations, to dispose
Of the public DOMAIN. Therefore any
disposition sought to be made by me
can be made only In view of the law
and within the law. All questions of
policy, all criticisms tora all proper dis
position of public lands must necessar-
lily be referred to and controlled by
the law making body established by
the constitution. 1t has become prac-
tice with many people, either through
ignorance OF these conditions or dis
position to ignore them, to charge the
Interior department with the RESPONSE
bility 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 con-
scious rectitude in the endorsement OF
the laws and regulations as laid down
by congress in these particulars. the
criticisms Of the ignorant or the ma
lfcious Of the conduct of the interior
are important and will fall
of interrupting the regular and orderly
course of conduct laid down by the law