Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-01-25
TAFT DEMANDS LAWS
TO CURB LAND GRABS
Special Message on Conservation
Barely Touches BaIIinger-
Pinchot Trouble.
FOR sso,ooo,ooo OF BONDS.
Sum Needed for Irrigation-UrgeS
Probing-Committee Report.

D6cldTI0S LQdt PORTIONS Vi the pun
lie domain worth millions of dollars
have been obtained fraudulently by
private interests, President Taft, in a
special message to Congress, asks leg
islation that will permit the national
government to conserve it's vast re
sources in lands and water power in
the sparsely settled regions of the
West and Southwest without waiting
for a report by the Congressional
committee that is probing the Balm
ger-Pinchot controversy
The message deals with the need of
Congressional action for the conserva-
ton of the natural resources of the
nation and supports the general policy
of waterway development. The only
waterway project specifically ap.
proved is that of introducing dams
in the Ohio River from Pittsburg to
Cairo to assure a nine-foot stage at all
times. Mr.. Taft favors waterway de-
velopment as ''the best regulator OF
railroad rates that we have"
Conservation of the soil is impera
tive if the nation would provide for
the increase in production necessary
to meet the growing consumption. he
says. II recommend" says the mes
sage, that authority be given to is
sue, not exceeding s30,000,O00 OF
bonds from time to time, as the Sec
rotary of the Interior shall find il
necessary, the proceeds to be applied
to the completion of the conservation
projects already begun and their prop
er extension, and the bonds running
ten years or more, to be taken up by
the proceeds of returns to the reclama
ton fund, which returns, as the years
go on, will increase rapidly in
amount"
The slight references to the trouble
in the Interior Department, which is
contained in the closing paragraph o.
the message, is the only allusion tt
the trouble which resulted in the dis
charge of Pinchot and brought about
an acute situation in the capital ant
throughout the country.
The President reviews at som,
length the history of the nations pub
| lie domain and points out the defects
| in laws which he says have permitted
vast waste and the holding of millions
of acres of land by fraud. On thii
point the message says:
The truth is that title to millions
of acres of public lands was fraudu
| lently obtained, and that the right t,
recover large part of such lands TO
the government long since ceased b,
reason of statutes of limitation"
| other Points In the Message.
Some of the Presidents other rec
concentrations follow:
| The rapid disposition of the publ
| lands under the early statutes, and tn
| lax methods of distribution prevailing
| due, think, to the belief that these land
/ should rapidly pass into private owner
| ship, gave rise to the impression that tn
| public domain was legitimate prey 70
| the INSCRIPTIONS. and that IL was no
| contrary to good morals to circumven
/ the land laws.
| The Investigations into violations Q
/ the public land laws, and the prosecutio
| of land frauds. have been vigorously con
| tinued under my administration, as ha
| been the withdrawal of coal lands TO
| classification and valuation, and the tenn
/ porary withholding of power sites.
The present statutes, except so far a
/ they dispose of the precious metals an
| the purely agricultural lands, are nc
| adapted to carry out the modern view Q
| the best disposition of public lands I
| private ownership, under condition
| Offering, on the one hand, sufficient in
| ducement to private capital to take ther
| over for proper development, with NJ
/ strictive conditions on the other whic
/ shall secure TO the public that characte
/ of control Which will prevent monop0l
/ or misuse of the lands their product:
| 1t seems to me that it is the duty c
/ Congress now, by a statute, to validat
| the Withdrawals which have been mad
| by the Secretary of the Interior and til
| President and to authorize the Secretar
of the Interior temporarily to WITHDRAW
lands pending submission to Congress
| of recommendations as to legislation 1
| meet conditions or emergencies as the
| arise.
II is incumbent upon the govsrnmer
/ to foster by all available means the II
| sources of the country that produces tn
| food of the people. To this end the cor
| servation of the soils of the countr
| should be cared for with all means q
the governments disposal.
| One of the projects which answers til
1 description / have given is that of Intro
| ducing dams into the Ohio River 6roI
| Pittsburg TO Cairo. SO as to maintain q
| all seasons of the year, by slack water,
depth of nine feet. / recommend that I'll
| present Congress, in the river and harbo
| bill make provision for continuing cor
| tracts to complete this improvement. an
| shall recommend in the future. IL IL b
| necessary, that bonds be issued to carr
| il through.