Arizona republican., 1922-03-14
SEC. FALL RESENTS
ALLEGED ACTIVITY
Of TROUBLEMAKERS
(speoial to The RepubIiean.l

(Special to The Republican,
WASHINGTON, March 13. - BY
methods with which congress is fam
iliar certain parlor socialists and inn
practical economists for some time
have been insidiously endeavoring to
stir up strife between two executive
branches of the government" said
Secretary Fall. THE department of
the interior. which ! have the honor
to represent, and myself personally.
have been made the objects of severe
attacks on the part of these indiv-
iduals and organizations. These at
tacks have been so baseless and un-
reasonable, and frequently so mali
cious, that aside from directing my
associates to call the same to the
attention of the president, ] have not
given them public notice until now.
1.-THE President is known to have
under consideration the report OF a
commission appointed by him to in
vestigate and study the activities of
the bureaus of the executive depart
ments and to submit a plan for re-
organization to promote economy and
efficiency While the report has not
been made public. the rumors of
transfers of bureaus have been float
ing around which doubtless have
pose of these attacks on the interior
department of course is obvious. and
the plan adopted is both clever and
devilish without any knowledge of
the recommendation of the commits
sion they have endeavored to pre-
judice the minds of the country by
false assumption and downright lying
BY calling forth the bogies of graft,
profiteering. and exploitation they
have set up a smoke screen obscuring
the facts. Not one of these self
constituted defenders of the dear peo-
pie has ever sought through personal
inquiry to ascertain the views of
those whom they have abused and
maligned. on the contrary although
the facts are readily available which
completely refute their statements.
these facts have been utterly ignored.
'In various articles. apparently in
spired by bureaucrats. ! have been
charged as favoring legislation which
would have turned over the admins
tration of Alaska and it's vast re-
sources to an independent commits
sion entirely divorced from the con-
troll of Congress. Now what are the
facts? I reported adversely on this
legislation and urged against its pas
sage before a committee of Congress.
l reported on two other bills dealing
with the same subject. One of them
gave authority to the Chief Executive
to allocate the various bureaus now
operating in Alaska, and the other
transferred this authority to the sec
retary of the interior. on both of
these I reported favorablv. Congress
has not acted on either Of these. The
entire matter now rests with the
legislative branch of the government.
Beyond presenting the arguments
which governed by approval of the
legislation proposed. and which 7 did
not originate or suggest, I felt il
improper to go further. | find no
fault with those who, differing with
me in my conclusions. have fairly
presented arguments on their side OF
the question. / should feel quite un-
fitted for the position I occupy if.
after one year in service, / had rot
gained some well defined ideas on a
subject of so much Importance to the
public and in which this department
is exercising large authority. No one
at all conversant with the present
chaotic and impractical methods of
government in the territory viii deny
the urgent necessity for radical
changes. With mind entirely open,
information, I have reached certain
conclusions which have been en-
bodied in recommenda tions to Con-
gress where / am quite satisfied to
leave them. I can assure the public
that If Congress is not in agreement
with me I shall not endeavor to sway
the judgment OF our lawmakers by
initiating campaign of misrepreSen-
tation and personal abuse directed
against the opponents Of my rec
concentrations.
Getting down to brass tacks." Al
aska is suffering from too much
bureaucracy. Three departments and
eighteen bureaus. with headquarters
thousands Of miles outside the ter
ritory, arc endeavorinc to manage the
affairs and shape the future of an
empire of incalculable riches en-
braced within an area equal TO one
sixth OF that of the United States.
and exceeding that of the thirteen
original states. They are making a
mess of the job. Surely the problem
is sufficiently important to demand
clear thinking and careful planning.
The situation is not going to be adj
vancd by academic or acrimonious
discussions. 1t calls for the wisest
craftsmanship. Insofar IS this de-
partment is able, from the wealth Of