New-York tribune., 1908-04-18
FORESTRY EXTENSION.
Gro1cth IN the Bureau of a Miniature
Land Office Threatened.
EFrom The Tribune Bureau.

Washington April LIT is all very well
that We know that the distinguished gentleman at
the head of the Department of Agriculture is going
TO administer this law properly. That is not the
question. We are not engaged in Iegisatng for the
individual who happens to be for the moment al
the head OF the Department Of Agriculture, un-
questionably the best Secretary of Agriculture we
ever had and who has done more for agriculture
than any else. We not legislating for MI
Wilson. We Iegslating for all Secretaries of
Agriculture. and must remember in passing laws
Of this kind that nothing can be so unfortunate as
to confuse the duties Of departments"
This statement made by Senator Lodge in debate
on the agricultural bill four years ago will apply
even greater force TO the bill recently passed
by the House and now under consideration by the
Senate Committee on Agriculture. This years bill
expressly provides that thereafter officials of the
forest service designated by the Secretary of Agri
culture shall aid the other federal bureaus and
departrents on request from them in the perform
ance Of the duties imposed upon them by law"
This Years bill also provides $500 to purchase
law books the forestry bureau. although there Is
ALREADY solicitor for the Department OF Agricult-
rre n advise the Secretary and the Attorney Cen
eraI and his assistants are always at MS dspoSaI
If he requires legal advice
The principle underlying these provisions can
he understood. however, only in the light Of the
measure as reported from the House Committee
Thai conferred on the Secretary OF Agriculture
through the forest service. authority trade land
or,-e,, natents and in numerous other ways
to usurp the powers which have always been vested
exclusively In the General Land Office The House
appreciated that the bill went too far and struck
out a part OF this provision
When four years ago. the officials of the forestry
bureau asked that they have supervision Of those
public lands then administered by the forestry
division OF the Department Of the Interior they
assured Congress that under circumstances
would they seek authority pass rpon or convey
titles that in all respects save those affecting the
welfare of the forests and such matters as rs-
CURED expert knowledge they would he content to
with the General Land Office all legal affairs
connected with the public forests
Now, just four years later, bill is brought IN
by the House Committee. based on the recon-
mendations the forestry bureau. which com
petely stuIthes those pledges seeks TO build un
in bureau of forestry miniature public land
office. with legal library, attorneys and all the
appurt enances which now are to be found in Ibe
General Land Office and for the duplication of
which there is. In the minds of certain Senators
whatever
The House apparently sought to safeguard the
overlapping of authority by inserting the words
"on request from them in the provision above
quoted but Senators who have watched the de-
yelopment the bu: forestry and u-bo
know the personalities which dominate :bis and
the other departments affected declare that IitrIs
difficulty would be experienced in bringing 10 hear
sufficient influence the necessary reuuest
whenever II was desired by the forest bureau and
they regard this overlapping OF duties as danger
Gus experiment and TIA, growth by accretion" of
the bureau OF forestry as extravagaut and IN
warranted