THE INTERESTS VS. THE PEOPLE 569 



ted him as saying that "a subordinate Senate Committee on Irrigation and 



of the Agricultural Department should Reclamation of Arid Lands. 



not run the Interior Department." Secretary Ballinger, however, for- 



On July 17 and 20 his representative, bade its use as not specifically provided 



the Acting Secretary of the Interior, for by law. 



through letters to the Secretary of His hostility to this plan was, per- 



Agriculture, terminated the coopera- haps, reflected in his remarks at Spo- 



tion on the ground that it was "in con- kane where he said : 



travention of law and of well settled "The whole scheme of the act is 



principles." based upon the appropriation of the 



Meanwhile, trouble was brewing in proceeds of the sale of public lands in 

 the Reclamation Service. The Secre- certain states and territories for the con- 

 tary of the Interior was reported to be struction of irrigation works for the re- 

 hostile toward the Director, Mr. Fred- clamation of arid and semi-arid lands 

 erick Haynes Newell. therein. No further appropriation by 



The Secretary started on a tour of the Government is intended, or can be 

 the reclamation projects. A press story inferred from the act." 

 from Oregon announced that "scores Naturally the enlargement of the 

 and perhaps hundreds of bitter com- field of the Reclamation Service, as by 

 plaints would be poured into his ear," this cooperative plan, pointed toward 

 and it was predicted that there would be competition with "enterprises which 

 "a great shake-up in reclamation circles" private capital is ready to finance." The 

 after Mr. Ballinger had completed his Secretary, in his Spokane speech, de- 

 inspection, clared that it was "not the policy of the 



The source of these complaints was National Government * * * to hinder or 

 conceded in the following language : interfere with the investment of private 

 "These reports are circulated, as a rule, capital in the construction of irrigation 

 by representatives of companies whose works," and declared himself to be "not 

 private projects conflict with those of a believer in the Government entering 

 the Government." into competition with private enter- 

 In the same story it was declared that prise." 

 "the projects should be confined to Gov- At the Spokane meeting, these ques- 

 ernment lands and kept clear of enter- tions came to a focus. Mr. Newell 

 prises which private capital is ready spoke on the 9th, Mr. Pinchot on the 

 to finance." loth, and Secretary Ballinger on the 



Again, Director Newell was criticized nth. The latter was immediately fol- 



for going outside the law in promoting lowed by Former Governor Pardee. All 



his work. these speeches are reported in this is- 



For the convenience of settlers of sue of Conservation. 



limited means, and to enlarge at the Mr. Newell's speech was mollifying, 



same time the scope of the reclamation He showed what the Reclamation Serv- 



work by the Government, a cooperative ice is doing, gave credit to the work 



plan had been agreed upon. of private capital, suggested the im- 



By this, the settler might pay in part mensity of the task undertaken by the 



for his water rights by his work ; the Service, hinted that it was under fire. 



Service at the same time could avail and pointed out how "offenses must 



itself of his labor without paying there- needs come." 



for in cash. Each party to the contract Mr. Pinchot emphasized the impor- 



was benefited, and the plan proved ex- tance of the home in the Nation, and 



ceedingly popular. the need of saving and extending it. He 



Furthermore, before its adoption this voiced the need for maintaining equality 



plan had been carefully considered by of opportunity among citizens ; showed 



the Secretary of the Interior, the Direc- how this equality is menaced, among 



tor of the Reclamation Service, and the other things, by the water-power trust ; 



