Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-02-07

ana q Of a hearing ncediessiy
would be to harass and impede them
in the exercise OF their rights. The
forest service nus not show an OBJ
struction, litigious. or unfriendly spirit
towards those who are entitled 10
their claims. There appears 10 De "a
belief in some quarters that Il IS the
policy Of the forest service 20 make
II as hard as possible for claimants
to esta blish their rights TO land With
IN national forests. and that In pur-
suance Of this policy II has sought 10
discourage claimants by forcing them
IL n contest. whether they have a
good claim or not. This ~ not true
The large majority OF claims examin-
Cd are reported on favorably. II IL
shaIl appenr tina in any locality
claims which prove to be good arc be-
ing sent TO hearing IN any consider
able numbers, this fact VIII In itself
he evidence that the forest service has
been over-zealous. Forest Officers
must be Jealous and efficient In pro-
tecting the rights Of the public. but
they must not be SO Jealous AS 10 I'M
pose unnecessary hardship on citizens
who are acting in good faith and are
within the law. Wherever Il may
prove that this has happened, | shall
be- ready to admit that the service
has been In the wrong, and viii I'M
mediately take action to correct he
evil.
In short, If II Is true that national
forest Officers are unnecessarily har-
assing projectors, miners. or any 9TH
or ciasa of claimants or users of the
national forests. they are doing so
contrary TO the policy Of the service,
and those who are unfairly treated
have only tn present the facts 70 Sc
cure redress. Members Of the forest
service arc accountable TO me for NIL
that they do. wnnt TO emphasize
with an possible yigor that If they,
being human, fail to act always in
the right spirit as servants of the
public. or fail to use good Judgment,
there ~ a remedy at hand for those
aggrlcved through protests which viii
make possible administrative action
The forest service seeks To give every
man a square deal II any one does
not get n square deal he IA not COM
PEELED TO suffer in silence until he has
q case which he Is willing to carry
into the courts. A man does not go
10 law with Il neighbor IN whose fair
mindedncss he has any confidence. as
soon az he has cause Of dispute witN
him. He goes to his nelghbor and
talks il over. Forest service Officers
must protect the interest of the pub
lie, not subordinate IL To- the inter
est of the Individual; but they must
also deal with all individuals in -
spirit Of fairness, courtesy. and neigh
horliness. and with good judgment. II
they do not, they are DELINQUENT In
tho performance of their official duty
ana WIN DO held TO account for the de-
lInquncy when II Is made manifest
II have written thus fully about
the relations Of forest Officers with
the public because | believe that this
Is "A subject Of very great practical
importance just at the present time
10 all who believe that the policy Of
forest protection Is IN the public in
torcst. IF the forest service fails In
point Of fact, on the national forests
themselves and in direct contact with
users Of the forests, to make II felt
that II Is really squnrely with the pub
Ito. the cause Of forestry Itself Will
receive a severe setback. There are
unfortunately not lacking those who
for selfish reasons would nave II be-