Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-16
BALLlNGER-TAFT
POLICY SCATHED
MONDELL EXPLAINS WHY HE
REFUSED REQUEST
OIL MEN OF CALIFORNIA ALSO
OPPOSE MEASURES
Congressman Smith Says Presidents
Bill Will Meet with Strong Pro-
test from Petroleum Pro-
ducers in West

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-President
Tafts bills on various branches of
conservation. as prepared by Secre-
tary Ballinger We're discussed TO-DAY
by the house committee on pubic
lands, in which Chairman Mondeil eN-
planned the reasons for his decllnatlon
TO introduce the measures in the
house.
Mr.. Mondel objects to the Ballinger
bill for classification of public lands
as entirely unfeasible. Some OF the
others he regards as impracticable.
There are half dozen of the con-
servation bills in the batch sent to
Mr.. Mondell from the secretary of the
interior. They will be further con-
sidered and some member OF the com
mittee other than Mr. Mondeu may IN
troduce them.
REPRESENTATIVE Smith of California,
member of the committee, declares
the presidents bill for oil lands would
meet with the unanimous opposltlon
of the oil men of California.
1t provides for an agricultural use
for oil lands which Mr.. Smith declares
is impossible. He, however, faVors the
land classification bill as submitted
and may intI oduce it for the president
Policy Opposed
The matter of the adverse reception
Of the presidents conservative meas
ures in the public lands committee is
one of large interest, and they are the
first of the administration measures tc
reach the stage where there Is strong
opposition to them.
That the Republican insurgents in
sist on having a complete guarantee il
advance in regard to the Republican
caucus on the Ballin ger-Pinchot inves-
tigation in order that they may not
walk uninvitingly into ambush, was
made apparent by the attitude of the
Insurgents today.
Did you read all three OF the state
ments issued last night?" inquired one
of them. IF you did, you must have
noticed they were all different
I'VE have got to see the perspective
before we go into caucus. We have to
know the program in the minutest
detail. President Taft's statement
was brief and did not go very far in
explanation. 1t was well that 1t did
not, for the details would show that
the regulars Of the house have sur
rendered on every point of the limited
agreement that has been reached"
Representative Norris of Nebraska
was among those interviewed.
L have nothing to say today on the
subject of insurgency" said he. Tex
cepting that the statement of the
agreement of the regulars and insur.
gents as given out by John Dwight
is a joke
Mr.. Norris referred to the statement
issued yesterday by the Republican
whip" of the house.
Representative Hays of California
'insurgent emissary," was a caller al
the White House today. Further thar
to remark that he had brought some
information which the president re-
quested, Mr.. Hays would not discuss
his visit.
He declared the 'Insurgent" fight in
the house was far from an end, and
that while the regulars had conceded
the right of caucus prior to important
legislation rather than forcing mat
ters through with a special rule, this
was not altogether satisfactory to the
progressives, who want an entirely
new method of doing business in the
house.