Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-02-05
WORSE THAN THE
BALLlNCER BILLS
So Say. Pinchot About Pending
Conservation Measures In
Congress.


Editor, The Tribune,
Willmar, MINI.
Dear Mr.. lawson:
The end of fighting in France opens
many question at home. During the
war the hearts and minds of the men
and women of America were over
seas, but with the coming of victory
we can turn again to home affairs.
1t is right and fitting, therefore, that
the friends of Conservation should
inquire once more as to the status of
the conservation movement. It is par
ticularly right and fitting at the mo-
ment when Theodore Roosevelt, the
man to whom this movement was most
indebted, has left us conservationists
as heirs to the task which he began.
The people of the United States own
natural resources of enormous value
red million barrels of oil, four hund-
red and fifty billion tons of coal, two
million acres Of phosphate lands, and
more than fifty million undeveloped
water horsepower.
Legislation is now pending In Con-
gress to trade or give all this away.
While public attention was absorbed
by the war, measures to dispose of
these resources quietly passed both
the House and Senate. AS usual the
House bills are mainly sound, the
Senate bills thoroughly bad. There
is serious danger that the latter will
be damned in the dying hours of the
present session.
The Senate, on January Z, 1918,
after very brief consideration, passed
a bill IS. 2812), dealing with the coal,
oil, gas, and phosphate resources now
in public ownership. This measure,
masquerading as leasing bill, would
surrender, with the title, all control
of waste, output, price, and labor con-
ditions. 1t fosters speculation in coal,
oil, gas, and phosphate, and gives no
assurance of prompt development
Even the leasing provisions afford no
protection to the public against ex-
tortion or monopoly. Still worse, 1t
gives title to fraudulent oil claimants,
many Of whom have already had their
claims denied by the courts. Finally
there is joker which would over
throw the present lease law for coal
lands in Alaska, for which we fought
so long, and would turn them over for.
ever to private hands.
A bill for the leasing of these same
resources was passed by the House on
May Is, 1913. This measure III. R.
3232) is much fairer to the public
interests than the indefensible com
panion bill passed by the Senate.
On December II, 1917, the Senate
passed bill Is. 1439) providing for
the granting of franchises for water
power on navigable streams. 1t is
substantially the notorious and disre'
putable Shields Bill of the previous
Congress, which was defeated by pub
lie condemnation. The House did not
approve it, but passed instead an en-
tirely new bill, drawn by the Ad
ministration and covering WATERPROOF
er not only on navigable streams
but also upon public lands and nation
al forests, and international water
ways.
When this Administration bill was
first introduced l endorsed it heartily
The House Committee on Water Pow
er later wrote in a new clause, the
most vital in the bill, which was very
properly opposed by the President
Nevertheless, on September S, 1918
the measure passed the House with
this clause included.
The two sets of bills are now in
conference. The Senate measures
both on minerals and on waterpowers
are worse than the notorious Ballinge1
bills,-more hostile to the public in
terest and more helpful to corporate
monopolies. The House bills are en-
tirely different and vastly better. AS
you know, a bill reported from con
ference cannot be substantially amend
ed in the House or Senate, but must
be accepted or rejected as it stands
by the conference, both on minerals
and on waterpower, may be like the
Senate bills, and unlike those of the
House, and that in the confusion OF
the closing hours they may pass. The
men who, without regard to party
strive to defeat the passage of the
Senate measures, or any measures
like them, will deserve we'll of their
country.
The vast natural resources which
are still held by the people can be
made to supply sound and solid basis
for reconstruction. Properly conserv.
ed and administered, they might al.
most wipe out our gigantic national
debt. There is no good reason why
they should go to make more million
aires instead of helping our people to
pay for the War.
In the public interest l ask you to
give these facts the widest publicity at
your command.
Sincerely yours,
CLIFFORD PINCHOT.