The Washington herald., 1910-07-03
BALLINGER NAMES
AN ARMY ENGINEER
Will Be Consulting Officer
in Reclamation Work.
PRESIDENT FAvORS THE PLAN
Secretary of Interior Creates New
office I'm Connection with Irriga-
tiOn BrOjects-AuthOrity Given I'm
der Act Providing for s2O,OO0,oOO
indebtedness Certificates.


TO place army officers in charge OF ir-
rigation work in the West is Indicated
in an announcement made yesterday by
r. A. Ballinger. Secretary Of the Interior.
Secretary Ballinger made it known that
he had created the Office Of consulting
engineer in the Reclamation Service. and
shat he had appointed Brig. Gen. VIII
liam L. Marshall TO the place.
Gen. Marshall retired from the posi-
ton of chief Of engineers OF the army
last month. In a statement given to the
public, Secretary Ballinger had this 10
say concerning the new Office;
ut is known that this IS In accord
with the wishes of the President and IN
harmony with the plan of inspection OF
existing projects as directed by the re-
cent act authorizing the issuance Of
certificates Of indebtedness against the
reclamation fund not exceeding the
amount Of s2OOOO,O0O to complete existing
projects shown to be feasible"
VIII Be an adviser.
Secretary Ballinger emphasized this OBJ
servatlon in his statement: Gen. Mar
shalrs appointment does not indicate any
change in the personnel of the field force
Of the Reclamation Service, inasmuch as
he VIII have no supervision or control
over the operations Of the Reclamation
Service nor the designing Of construction
work. Gen Marshall will act in an adj
visory capacity to the Secretary of the
Interior in the work of completing rec
lamation projects"
While Secretary Ballingers announce
ment indicates that there is no intention
Immediately TO displace F. II. Newell, the
Director of the Reclamation Service. II Is
the understanding that much of his au-
thority Will be taken by Gen. Marshall.
There is sharp antagopism between Sec
rotary Ballinger and Director Newell. and
the belief is quite general that ultimately
Mr. Newell will be displaced.
Officials of the Interior Department in
sist that there is too much politics in the
Reclamation Service as at present admin
istered. Accordingly President Taft and
his advisers conceived the idea of assign
ing army officers TO irrigation projects.
a bill that authorized the President TO
make such details was defeated at the re-
cent session Of Congress, as a result of
the opposition of Senator Bailey.
The bin authorizing the issue Of
certificates OF indebtedness 20 the ex-
tent of $20,60OOO0 TO enable the gov-
eminent to proceed with work on
Western projects provides that the
plans for reclamation works hereafter
shall be passed upon by board Of
army engineers. By this means and
through the appointment OF Gen Mar
shall as consulting engineer, the ad-
ministration has taken the first step
toward transferring the reclamation
service from the hands of civil en-
gineers 20 those OF officers of the army.
Opinions Are Divided.
Opinion appears to be divided among
Western men as to the advisability OF
detailing army officers for service on
irrigation projects. Senator Nelson. of
Minnesota. favOrs the plan, He has
long been identified with river and
harbor legislation, and states that the
services of army officers on such has
generally proved efficient, and that
there is no reason why the army en-
gineers should not perform just as
efficiently on irrigation works.
A good. deal OF interest is excited
here in the announcement from Bev-
erly that President Taft has designated
George Otis Smith. director OF the Geo
logical Survey. as the temporary head
of the new Bureau of Mines and Min
ing This designation is regarded as
q triumph for Secretary Ballinger, and
is one OF the echoes of the feud be-
tween Mr.. Ballinger and Clifford Pin
chot.
why DIR. Holmes Lost Ont.
DIT. J. A. Holmes of the technoIogic
branch of the Geological Survey. was an
active candidate for the place at the
head of the Bureau of Mines. He was
accounted a friend of Mr. PinchOt and
10 have taken the side OF PinchOt against
Ballinger. For this reason he was OPP
posed by Mr.. Smith. who. it is said
made a protest against Holmes appoint
ment to Secretary Ballinger. However.
there was opposition to DR.. Holmes from
other sources.
Representative Tawney stoutly opposed
the appointment OF DR.. Holmes, as a re-
suit of the activity on the part of Holmes
in bringing influence to bear on the
Committee on Appropriations for legisla-
ton relating 20 tests OF structural ma
terial
The indications are that the report on
the BaIlinger-Pinchot case will be COM
pleted al Minneapolis on September
The joint committee of Congress that is
inquiring into this controversy is SEIZED
uled 10 meet there on that date Senator
Nelson, chairman of the committee. is
is Washington going over the records in
the case. 1t is the understanding that
he is preparing the report that will be
signed by majority OF the Republican
committeeman.