New-York tribune., 1910-09-06

q water power site and that this grant
/ from the federal government 70 the STATE
shall contain a condition that the stats
shall never part wicH the title 70 the Watst
power site the water power, but shall
lease it only for term OK years not ex-
ceedfng fifty with provisions in the lease
by which the rental and the rates 70;
which the power Is furnished to the PUBLIC
shall be readjuSted at periods less than the
term of the Iease-say, every ten years.
The argument is urged against this dlspo.
sftion of power sites that legislators and
state authorities are more subject to COR
porate influence and control than would oa
the central government: in reply IL Is
claimed that readjuStment of the terms
OF of-leasehOld every ten years would secure
to the public and the state just and equita-
BILE terms Tnen IT. is said that the stats
authorities are better able TO understand
the local need and what is fair adjust
nent i'm the particular locality than would
be the authorities at Washington. II has
been argued that after the federal govern
ment parts with title to power site IL
cannot control the action OF tne state In
fulfilling the conditions OF the deed. 10
which it Is answered that IN the grant
from the government there may oe easily
inserted a condition specifying the terms
upon which the state may part with the
temporary control OF the wafer power dteS,
and. indeed. the water power, and proyid-
power sites I'm case the condition is not
performed, and giving to the President, IN
power to declare forfeiture and 70 direce
proceedings to restore the central govern
ment TO the ownership Of the power sizes.
with all the improvements thereon. and
that these conditions may be promptly en-
forced and the land and plants forfeited 20
the general government By suit OF the
United States against the state, which -
permissible under the Constitution
Calls Halt in "Rhapsodies."
I do not express an opinion upon the con-
troyersy thus made or preference as 70
the two methods OF treating water power
sites. I shall submit the matter 70 Con.
gress and urge that one or the other ot
the two plans be adopted
At the risk of wearylnS my audience
have attempted TO state as succincty as
may be the questions Of conservation as
they apply to the public domain OF the
government, the conditions 10 which they
apply and the proposed solution OF them
In the outset i alluded 70 the fact that
conservation had been made 70 include a
great deal more than wnat 1 nave dis
cussed here OF course, as have referred
only TO the public domain Of the federal
government. have left untouched the VIDE
field OF conservation, Win respect 20 WH.clL
a heavy responsibility rests upon the states
and individuals as well. But think II OF
the utmost Importance thdt aTter tne pup
lie attention has been reused to the neces-
sitv of a change In our general policy to
prevent waste and a selfish appropriation
to private and corporate purposes OF wnaL
should be controlled for the public nene1t,
those who urge conservation shall feel the
necessity of making clear how conserVatlo1
can be practically carried out and shaIL
propose specific methods and legal DTo-
visions and regulations 10 rerneGy aCtuaL
adverse conditions 1 am bound TO say tna-
the time has come for halt IN general
rhapsodies over conservation, making the
word mean every known good IN the Worid,
for after the public attention mas oeel
reused such appeals are of doubtful utility
and do not direct the public 10 the speciho
course that the people should take, or nave
their legislators take. IN orGer 1 20 pIS!lloe
emotions on a subject like this, whicn mas
only dim outlines in the minds or the peo-
pie affected, after while ceases TO De use
frl and the whole movement Will, II pro-
NOTED on these lines. die for want or pIac-
ticai direction and OF demonstration to tha
peopIe that practical reforms are Intended
Real Conservation Defined.
have referred to the course OF the last
a administration and Of the present one in
naLing withdrawals of government lands
from entry under homestead and OtheT laws
and OF Congress in removing an DOUBT as
great step IN the direction OF practlcal con-
5eryation- But it is only one or two neceS-
pose II has produced status quo and
prevented waste and irrevocable disposition
of the lands until the method for tnelr
proper disposition can be formulated BLo
+ Is Of the utmost Importance that such
should not be reSarded sS ties
final step in the course of conservation ani
snread that conservation is the tying Up
IF the natural resources OF the govern
17ent for indefinite Withholding from uSS
,nd the Remission TO remote generations to
1ecide what ought TO be done with these -
means OF promoting present general HulildL
roroFort and progress For, il so, 1t Is ceI-
ain 10 arouse the greatest opposition 10
as a cause, and II II were as
correct expression OF the purpose or con-
II ought 10 arouse this oppc-
sitfon Real conservation involves wlseb
use in the present generaIloh-
with every possible means of preservation
for succeeding generations. and though the
problem TO secure this end may be dlIncu't.
The burden is on the present generation
TO solve II and not 70 run away
rom II as towards. lest IN the attempt 70
meet 1t we may make some mistake. As l
have said elsewhere. the problem Is how 20
save and how 70 utilize. how TO conserve
and still develop, for no sane person can
contend that il is for the common goot
hat natures blessings should he stored
only for unborn generations
beg of you. therefore. in your dehbera-
ions and in your informal discussions.
when men come forward to suggest evils
hat the promotion of conservation Is 70
remedy that you invite them 70 point out
he specific evils and the specific remedies:
hat YOU invite them 10 come down 70 de-
.afIs in order that their discussions may
1ovr into channels that shall be useful.
-atier than into periods that shall he elo-
,uent and entertaining. without shedding
cal light on the subject The people should
20 shown exactly what IS needed in order
hat they make their representatives n
congress and the state legislatures do theirs
Intelligent bidding