The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-01-13
BlILlNGER SCHEMlNG
FOR FOREST CONTROL
Movement on Foot 10 Transfer
Service 10 the Department
Of Interior
ffly Associated press,)

Washington. Jan. 13.--President
Taft has decided to appoint Henry ;.
Graves. head of the Yale school OF
forestry, as chief of the forestry bu-
ieau. TO succeed Clifford Pinchot.
Presidept Taft also appointed Albert
r. Potter, at present acting forester
as associate forester. The new for
ester and his associate are both
known as pinchot men. Both have
seived under Mr. Pinchot and both
Are in sympathy with his policy or
administration.
II was largely tnFough Mr.. Pin
chot's efforts that the Yale forestry
school was established and Mr..
Graves went from the post of assist
ant chief OF the division OF forestry
under Mr.. Pinchot to become direct
or Of the school in 1900. He had
served in the forestry division two
years.
Mr.. Graves graduated from Yale in
1892. He was trained in forestry In
this country and in Europe, and has
had extensive experience in the west,
having made the reconnaissance sur
vey OF the Black Hills in 1897. Mr.
Graves will take up his duties as for
ester Feb 1
Mr.. Potter. whe succeeds Oyerton
w. Price, is a native of California
and had spent all his life in the wes'
until he became member Of the for
estry staff nine years ago. He has
had jurisdiction over all grazing priv
ileges within the preserves. He is
well acquainted with western condi
tions and is thoroughly informed Of
all the policies and practices Of sthe
forest service.
Thers is a scheme on foot to trans
fer the forestry service from the de
partment OF agriculture 10 the depart
Ment Of the interior. This woulc
take the service away from Secretary
Wilson and give it to Secretary Bail
niger.
In certain sections OF the far ives
there has always been opposition Z
the agricultural department control
ing the forests. The assertion hal
been made from time 70 time tha
this opposition came largely from th'
opponents OF the Pinchot forest pol
icy.
Whether any progress can be mad
with this movement to have congress
transfer the service to the departmen
Of the interior remains 10 be seen.
Former Forester Pinchot, as pr
yate citizen. will oppose the proposed
change strenuously, and the entir
forestry service. If consulted by con
sress. will advise that the change b
not made.
Changed The Law
The interior department original
administered the forests. On th
theory that the management of land
not Of forests, was the chief tnine
the law Of June 4, 1897, gave the SEE
fetary of the interior authority owe
the forests and provided that thei
Surveying, mapping and genera
classification should be done by tn
United States geological survey an
the execution of administrative worl
by the general land office.
In little while the necessity o
consolidating the various branches O
the government forest work becaus
apparent and finally the act of Eel
rrary /, 1905, transferred TO the sec
rctary of agriculture entire jurisdit
lion over the national forests, excep
IN matters of surveying and passag
of title.
Interior department officials hay
never been quite satisfied with thi
transfer They have insisted frol
time to time that the administratio
OF the forests on the public domai
was so intimately associated with III
administration OF the public land tina
The whole business should be unde
the intesior department
1T BaIlinesr's Request
About three years ago the forest
On Indian reservations were tran,
ferfed from the bureau OF Indian a
fairs, which is under the interior d.
partmenf, TO the bureau of forestr,
One of the first acts of Secretar
4 Ballinger, after he became secretar
= os the interior was TO declare thf
this transfer was illegal. He insis
od that the forests on Indian resercyi
lions be transferred back 10 the Il
terrier department. and this was don
Up 70 fhis time Secretary Ballingt
has not implicated in any public ma
ner that he hopes 70 get the entil
forest service back into the interi'
department, .hllt uIe insistent stan
be took fwith Inference TO the fores
on Indian Reservations leads to Il
belief thai he would like TO have Z
forest service as whole put back !
tn the interior department.
TsH's Conservation Message
President TAFT plans to send h
message OF conservation to congre
Tomorrow II will be radical enoul
10 suit even those conserya'ionis
who hare grown up In the Pinch
school