The Washington times., 1910-04-19
In Denver Speech Says
There Is No Doubt of
Its Existence.
PRESIDENTS POWER
SHOULD BE USED
Executive, He Says, Can Conserve
National Resources By Liberal
Interpretation of the Laws.

DENVER, Col, April I9.-Interest in
a meeting of the Colorado state Con
servatio Commission centeTed IN a
speech made by James r. Garfield, of
Ohio. former Secretary OF the Interior
During the last ten years. he said,
the great possibilities for the use of
water have been appreciated Every
where private interests are attempting
10 gain control Of vantage points for
development Il Is certain that an in
tolerabIe water monopoly VIII he fast
ened upon our people unless the public
in both nation and States asserts its au-
Ihority and control the use OF water
The combination Of various interests
IN particular watersheds Is inevitable
unless restrained or regulated by law
Il is not enough to deny that a Water
trust exists today all the elements that
20 to make up such a trust are in eZ-
fstence ana the tendency toward such
Capitalization grows stronger day By
day.
Conservation Of water means its wise
use and development for domestic pur-
poses, irrigation. water power, and navi-
cation IN many minds there seems TO
be a necessary conflict between Federal
and State jurisdictions IN dealing with
the problem. but such Is not the case
UphOlds Government Action
Garfield argued the wisdom and con-
stitutionaIity Of the Government &C
ton in entering upon the reclamation
projects. regulation of the use Of non
1avigahIe streams and the develop
trent of power In the forest pre-
serves
special and private interests he con-
tiuued. are ever present, ever ready 70
Iage; too often regardless of the eff
Iect that their requests OF demands
may have upon the public some spe-
cial privileges are obtained BY dis
honesty and corruption but by no
means all Of them. Indifference on
the part of the people Is iuevita bly,
reflected in the actions Of their repre-
EentaCITeE-
The executive power, granted TN
der the Constitution is subject 70 but
few limitations and prohibitions IN
Ger q narrow Interpretation the ten
dsnCy Of the Chief Executive Is 20 ma
q. reason for not acting while under a
broad Interpretation. whenever the
public interest requires action is
taken unless IL IS found prohibited BY
The Constitution OF laws
Executive Has Power.
The Executive. of course. must keep
within the IaW. but there is a wide
latitude for action within the law An
do nothing OF. he may do much Il is
his du+y TO make the law an instrument
20 promote the public good rather than an
excuse for inaCt1on- The narrow inter
probation Of the law Is the one that
private interest and special privilege
md best suited TO their purposes
The acts of President Roosevelt IN
relation to the public domain and the
couSeT vari0u Of natural resources were
in accordance with the broad interprs-
ta-ion Of executive power There Is Vet
10 be shown any instance in which he
has acted outside OF the law. He stop
ped the stealing Of the public domain
and the waste Of natural resources
Condemns Pending Bills.
Garfield condemned bills pending in
Congress that propose 10 transfer 20
the States all Government land capable
Of use for water power development
The Federal Government he said.
should retain the ownership Of al
such lands and permit their use only
under a system Of lease BIZ which all
interests can he properly safeEUaroed-