The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-25
WHAT WAS THE NATTER

We gladly give place To- the follow
ing concise and accurate summing up
OF the known facts in the contention
between Pinchot and his followers or
the one hand and Taft's administra-
tion on the other. on the conservation
and coal entry questions:
Salt Lake CITY. Utah. July "a
Editor Tibune:-In a recent editorial
you say that there Is q mystery about
Pinchot's controversy with Mr. Balm
ger. The explanation Is easy. Congress
passed a law authorizing the President
| 90 set aside forest lands as forest re-
serves. There has never been any con-
trovcrsy about the intention OF Congress
or the meaning OF the law 1t was to
preserve the forests on the watersheds
OF our rivers. in order 10 hold back the
water when the rainfall was heavy. and
thus prevent erosion OF the soil and loss
by destructive freshets, and while doing
this to conserve the supply OF timber for
the use OF the people. No one thought
of using the forest reserve law as n blind
20 cover an entirely different policy un-
III Mr.. Pinchot WAS appointed Forester
The forest reserve law made the Forester
with the approval OF the Secretary OF
the 1nterior) the absolute autocrat OF
the forest reserves. He had the power
10 make rules. TO create Offices and ill
them by appointment and 10 exercise con- |
troll over every one who even passed
through the forest Mr. Pinchot's ambi |
uon was 10 have this power extended |
over the entire public domain By hav-
ing the cattle and sheep ranges placed In |
the forest reserve he acquired the power /
30 compel the livestock men TO buy graz
inc permits. thus getting an income ~ !
million dollars a year independent OF |
appropriation by Congress. II coal lands 4
were included IN the forest reserves he |
could. without permission from Congress |
lease these coal lands under royalty 10
be liked bv himself Telephone and tel
cgraph lines could be constructed across
the reserves only by complying with his
terms, Water power could be developed
and electric power conveyed across the
country BY wire only when permission
was obtained from him-for a considcra-
uon. Thus the settlement og the Vest
crn country could be advanced or re-
exercise political influence over cltlzens
living on or near forest reserves COM
pared with which the influence Of the
sTestest boss In the country would be
but triHe The forest reserve law corr
tains this section (Act of June & iSq1y 4
No public forest reservation shall be cs-
iaolshed. except 70 Improve and protect
the forest within the reservation or for
the purpose Of securing favorable con-
di,ious Of water flows and 20 furnish a
continuous supply q timber FOR the use
ana necessities OF citizens OF the UniteJI
states. In violation of this express pro
vision or the statute President Roosevelt
az Pinchots request set aside as forest
reserve. sngebruSh deserts In Arlzpu, anS
rado and Wyoming and tide water mud
Mats In Alaska. The amount Of non
forest land set apart as forest reserve
W violation 81 law WAS mon. than double
Tho AREA ~ all the New EnEland states.
over an THIS domain Mr. Flnchot eXcr-
rissd absolute authority. In order 10 con-
cilisie tho large livestock interests and
have thsm acguicscc IN h!s usurpa ton.
he pointed oct the great advantage itI
would he 80 them " they could De per-
uittca - build fences on tho public do .
Of he H.. T,l
though forbidden hv law. could be au-
'horu%d cv him IN the range rero in
-iuded IN the forrest reserve. When Mr
baliuEer became Sgcrsfsrv - the In.
lrr'or 10 notified Mr.. Tlnrhot that ne
Nhe' go'hn" hia s"uri'ics Co. what vas
suthour-d b. lHN. NJ Piu-hot - once
.taft"d ile leht to have Esi'inEcr rr- .
moved. When 'cugr~s~ ordered an lr,es.
iEaun1 - tIe intrrior Department. an
inquiry into The uvcr'ious ~ the fores, ;
.srNics vas likewise ordered This pttt I
7inci0' iu q ha'e from which .srspe |
l~f'n~i iwursdhir f0~ him became ID. ,
t"lsii"u~ ~ law Rnf abuses ~ fove er ,
.Tnsf fermfd ruerihls On order To- sx- r
-Fn~ w. t0u-ed rrssI1ent Taft 10 diu
miss 1'nt snd ri- friends theu srt uu ths
fr that his dirWirral maj So au iuvsstis.. ,
10 thofourhl' iurssii~str fhe forest .cr,.. 2
shd q" rfrered rl.nisGnurrf ruls 10 ,
o-t'uu" h. =" a'isoks on Dsiiinxsr
hAnAs ~ Nr Ra.tlur@r. Tinrrot'E :
ifsan ~ IN Turire rlihiu a republic ~ .
'nis' unless ii- friend fhe Colonel =
-lcutd regain hls n1v-er iu orr1slftor t.I 1
vrl~h even loVaf Western man sh,rit
iulv pray R~srsctfuii,
~ " REED .
We arc Obliged 70 Mr. Reed Tor M, Il
hor'uEh add accurate presen,stion al n
no facts; ihev arc facts we'll Al a
c,i"d. ard the general public need, 10 /,
ave them presented In The Tribune e
EDITORIAL q which Mr. Reed refers. Il
loWever. 40 rad in mind something be a
-ond all that, something that ha. no, :
80 been Published Or explained. There I
would not seem 10 be any reason, 80 c