The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-19
A STEWARDSHIP FOR The PEOPLE

The idea that the Executive is the
steward OF the public welfare was
hrst formulated and given practical
effect In the Forest Service by It's
law officer. George Woodruff. The
laws we're often Insufficient and n
became well-nigh impossible 10 get
them amended In the public interest
when once the representatives, OF priv.
ilege In Congress grasped the fact
that ] would sign no amendment that
contained anything not in the public
interest IL was necessary TO use
what law was already In existence,
and then further TO supplement IL by
executive action. The practice OF ex.
aiming every claim to public land
before passing II into private owner.
snip oilers a good example OF the pol.
ICY In question. This practice, which
mas since become general. was FIRST
applied in the National Forests
enormous areas OF valuable public
timberland were thereby saved from
fraudulent acquisition: more than
S3O,VVo acres were thus saved in a
single case.
This theory OF stewardship In the
interest OF the public was well illus.
trated by the establishment OF A
water power policy. Until the Forest
service changed the plan, water pow.
ers on tho navigable streams. on the
public domain. and in the National
Forests were given away for nothing,
ana substantially without question. 10
whoever asked for them. At last
under the principle that public prop.
erty should be paid for and should
not be permanently granted away
Wnen such permanent grant is avoid.
able. the Forest Service established
me use OF power In the National For.
esIS IN the public interest. and max.
ing charge for value received. This
was the beginning OF the water mower
policy now substantially accented nv
the public. and doubtless soon N he
enacted INTO law. But there was a,
the outset violent opposition 10 n on
the part OF the water power companies
ana such representatives OF their
views In Congress as Messrs. Tawney
and Bede.
Many. bills were introduced In Con.
AZ relieving the power companies ~
control and payment. When these
Dllls reached me refused 70 sign
mem; and the injury TO the public
interest which would follow thor. ma
sage was brought sharply TO public
attention In my message Of February
~. IsOS The bills made no further
Under the same princinIe q, s,av
ardship. railroads and other cornora,
lions. which applied for and were
even rights In the National Forests
were regulated in the use OF those
,lshis. In short. the public resources
IN charge or the Forest Service u,ere
nahdled frankly and openly for Tho
pubic welfare under the clear cut and
Tlearly set forth principle that the pub
est second. '''"'e i"'e'
The Special Interests Fioht
The natural result OF this new At
tltuue was the assertion in every
ioIin oy the representatives OF spec-
,sI interests that the Forest Service
was exceeding Its legal powers and
lhwarting the intention OF Congress-
Sults were begun wherever the
chance arose. II Is worthy recordin .
that, in spite OF the novelty arr
compleNity OF the legal question n
had TO face. no court OF last resor,
nas ever decided against the Forest
In its administration OF the Ma
lonai Forests the forest service
found that valuable coal lands were
in danger OF passing into nriv,te
ownership without adequate money
return TO the Government and with
OUT safeguard against monopoly: and
that existing legislation was insuft
cieht 10 prevent this. When this
condition was brought TO my atten-
tlon / withdrew from all forms ~
entry about sixty eight million acres
OF coal land in the United States
including Alaska The refusal OF
congress TO act in the public Interest
was solely responsible for keepinr
these lands from entry.
The Waterways and Conservation
The Conservation movement was
direct outgrowth OF the forest
moyemet. II was nothing more than
the application 20 our other natural
resources OF the principles which
mad been worked out I'm connection
with the forests. Without the basis
OF public sentiment which had been
punt up for the protection OF the
forests. and without the example of
public foresight in the protection OF
this. one OF the great natural re-
sources the Conservation movement
would have been impossible. The
hrst formal step was the creation
OF the Inland Waterways Commits
sion. appointed on March IL. 1907
I'm my Letter appointing the Commits
sion. called attention 20 the value
OF our streams as great natural re-
sources. and OF the need FOR nro-
gressive plan for their development
and control
Down the Mississippi
The most stfikiug incident fn The Hfe,
tory of the Commission was the trim
down the Mississippi River iu Octoher
1907. when. a. President ~ the United
states. I was the chief guest. This OK
held and the wide public attention b.
attracted. gave the development 90 our