NEWS AND NOTES 



6i 



ing a wheel, but to prevent grabbers from 

 acquiring vested rights the theorists insist 

 that it must keep on flowing idly until it 

 can be made to yield tribute. * * * These 

 new policies have their roots in paternalism, 

 their tendency is toward despotism, and if 

 not checked they will choke to death our 

 boasted government of the people, by the 

 people, and for the people." — Judge Hanford, 

 at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, 

 Seattle. 



"Your policies cripple industries and devel- 

 opment, and thereby instead of conserving 

 resources cause their waste and destruc- 

 tion." — Frank Short, of Fresno, Cal. 



"The fact that one authority is financially 

 allied with the claimants to the Alaska coal 

 lands, that another represents the largest pri- 

 vate power and irrigation project in his_ state, 

 and that the other is attorney for consolidated 

 power companies, does not in the least re 

 fleet on the sentiments expressed in the para- 

 graphs printed (above). 



"Each authority practises exactly what it 

 preaches — corporation acquisition of the big 

 public resources." 



Thus begins an article by Agnes C. Laut 

 in Collier's for December i8, entitled "Water- 

 Power in the East." The article is a clear 

 setting forth of the work being done in 

 New York State to conserve the water- 

 powers for the benefit of all the people 

 rather than for the private profit of a few 

 corporations. 



i« J^' ^ 



Waning Opposition 



In view of the perennial eruption of the 

 mud volcano in Denver and the resolute, un- 

 scrupulous, and now apparently confident ef- 

 forts of those responsible for it to submerge 

 Mr. Gififord Pinchot and the Forest Service, 

 the following editorial from the Denver Re- 

 publican is of interest : 



"The attitude of the live-stock growers of 

 this state toward the policy of_ the Forestry 

 Service has undergone so radical a change 

 that it must be accepted as evidence of a 

 similar change in public sentiment. 



"At one time the stock growers were largely 

 arrayed against the Pinchot policy. They 

 looked upon it as a violation of their rights 

 and as detrimental to their interests. Their 

 opposition gave occasion for the expression 

 of like opposition by men not connected with 

 the live-stock industry. For a brief period 

 the Forestry Service was extremely unpopu • 

 lar in some quarters and with a certain ele- 

 ment of the population, and politicians sought 

 to take advantage of this antagonistic senti- 

 ment to promote their political success. 



"That day has passed. The cattlemen have 

 learned that instead of being detrimental, 

 the forestry policy is highly beneficial to 

 their interests. None of their rights have 

 been violated; and from being hostile to the 

 Service, they have become friendly and are 

 now extending both sympathy and aid. 



"The opportunity of the politicians who 



hoped to gain 

 Pinchot is gone, 

 sentiment which 

 in his favor. It 

 which will be to 

 and there is no 

 the peace, good 

 state." 



favor by denouncing Mr. 



They have to face a public 



every day is growing stronger 



is a vindication of his policy 



him a source of satisfaction, 

 question that it will promote 



order, and prosperity of the 



)^' )i« )^ 



Lining Up for Conservation 



Mr. J. Horace McFarland, president of the 

 American Civic Association, addressed that 

 body at Cincinnati with all his accustomed 

 vigor and energy. Speaking of the Tawney 

 amendment to the Sundry Civil Bill, he in- 

 dignantly inquired : 



"Is that infamous section of the Sundry 

 Civil Bill, whipped through in the last hours 

 of the Fifty-ninth Congress, which dissolved 

 all Mr. Roosevelt's working commissions 

 and swept away departriiental support of the 

 conservation movement, to be permitted to 

 remain law? Its effect was to make intelli- 

 gent interest in the future prosperity^ of 

 America a crime on the part of any Gov- 

 ernment official. This legislation in the in- 

 terests of the Icoters of the public domain 

 cannot remain effective if good citizens speak 

 directly to their congressmen." 



Mr. McFarland wisely urges the cori- 

 servationists to appeal vigorously to their 

 congressmen to check' the looters of the 

 public domain. Nothing short of this can 

 hope to save the situation. 



^ ^ ^ 



Regulating Construction of Dams 



Mr. Mann, of Illinois, has introduced into 

 the House of Representatives a bill (H. R. 

 13834) "to regulate the construction of dams 

 across navigable and non-navigable waters, 

 and for other purposes." Following are some 

 of its leading provisions: 



When authority has been granted to con- 

 struct and maintain a dam for water-power 

 or other purposes across navigable water, 

 plans and specifications, drawings, and maps 

 must first be submitted to the Secretary of 

 War and Chief of Engineers for approval. In 

 approving such plans the above officials may 

 impose such conditions and stipulations as 

 they may deem necessary to protect the pres- 

 ent and future interests of the United 

 States. The United States shall be entitled 

 to free water-power and power generated 

 from water-power for building and opera- 

 ting locks or other structures for naviga- 

 tion purposes. Compensation may be re- 

 quired for permission to maintain dams and 

 for the use of navigable water and for ob- 

 struction to navigation, and Government may 

 regulate and control charges. 



Failure to comply with the terms of the act 

 works forfeiture. 



The bill contains other interesting pro- 

 visions. On the whole, it appears to be a 

 step in the right direction. 



