New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-24

OF the United Press. had been out on
still hunt, posing as J. q. White man, UNI
der an assumed name. The big grab
shrunk every hour. and Psrdee's insincerlty
made bad impression on many OF tne
delegates / played the other game. ana,
while didn't draw many tears. was sue
cessful enough 10 make them try TO gag
me With motion To adjourn. II was theh
that I most enjoyed myself fer i knew
the fair play spirit would back me up and
give me q hearing.
/ don't think the whole thing amounted
10 much. The day following i had a ter
gram from Secretary Ballinger, and Paroee
had an AFFIDAVIT from Evans. and We agreeI
70 SIT still until some one else might start
each other until the congress adjourned.
Such is a gentleman's agreement
The Alaska story leaked. much 10 me
disgust Of Ballingers enemies. wouiq
give that charge more consideration l
didn't think that there had been search
VAS being held hack to spring at the best
moment. I am afraid that the well mean
ing conservationists are using the deNiIs
own weapons 10 fight the interests.
Back OF Il all. try 10 hide IL as they may,
is the issue OF whether control shall be
executed by legislation and the making OF
the law or by administration and the con
istruction of the law. AS Campbell. of the
Depar tnent Of Justice. at banquet SAID:
There is only ore construction Of law to
he sought. and that is the proper construc-
ton.
/ or. as another lawyer put II. the liberal
construction is when it's my way. and the
ytrici construction when IL favors the other
ieilcw.
have yet 20 learn that any power sites
that Wen keep right on in our conserya.,
ton work, whether u bears the union lapei
or not GEORGE OTIS SMITH.
When Mr. Pinchot testified before the
committee he admitted that the state
ment in his letter to the President was
"a mistake"
Friendly TO Garfield.
Mr.. Smith testified at length concern
ing his cordial relations with Mr.. Gar
field. and subrrstted various letters s~-
changed between them regarding the
progress Of conservation under Secretary
Ballinger. He said he had a great ad-
miration for Mr.. Garfield until the latter
told him. in effect that he had with
drawn lands chiefly valuable for water
power sites under the preteXt that they
were wanted for reclamation or other
purposes When he learned from Mr..
Garfield's own lips that this had been
the policy OF the Interior Department
when he was Secretary. he qualified his
sdmiration FOR Mr.. Garfield.
Members Of the committee were deeply
Interested in having Mr.. Smith explain
his ideas Of true conservation, and he
went into this subject at considerable
length. He defined conservation as the
utilization and development Of our nat
ural resources with the maximum OF eff
ficiency and the minimum Of waste. He
said the natural resources of the nation
were not alone for posterity. They were
for the use Of this as well as succeeding
generations, and should not be conserved
for the use Of succeeding generations at
too great expense to this generation.
Exaggerated Figures.
Mr. Smith then cited an article printed
yesterday in a Philadelphia newspaper
which charged that "a land grab was
UP TO Taft" In this article it was as
serted that Choctaw coal lands in Okla
homa valued at S160OO0.OOO by the Geo
logical Survey were about to be frittered
away. The tract embraced 363. 900 in
stead Of 100000 acres. as stated in the
Philadelphia newspaper. The present
value of this land to the government,
with its borrowing power Of 3 per cent,
was S6.5000C0. and to the State OF
Oklahoma, with a borrowing power Of
per cent. 100000. All these facts
were contained in a public document
which could be had for the asking. In
666 years the coal taken from this tract
would yield S160.00O,OO0.
Time doesn't count in conservation,
said Senator Nelson. amid laughter.
While the Ballinger side Of the contro-
versy occupied the centre of the stage
the other side appeared prominently in
the wings, Mr.. Brandeis promising the
newspaper men some further revelations
regarding Attorney General Wicker
sham's summary Of the CLAWS charges,
which he intimated yesterday had been
written two months after the date which
It bore. Mr.. Wickersham would neither
affirm nor deny this when seen to-day.
Il have something else 10 do" he said.
There is enough irrelevant matter GO
ing out now without my contributing
70 it,"
Mr.. Brandeis said to-day he could not
subpoena Mr. Wickersham to question
him about the summary, so he would
have TO content himself with question
ing witnesses called by the defence who