Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-07-25
Believed Cooperation in Developing
Tracts will Be of Vast Benefit
to All Concerned.
FORM ASSOCIATION AND
COMMITTEES TO DO WORK
Believe That Administration win BE
Kept Better in Touch With situa-
ton by This Means.
UNITED PRESS LEASED wIRE.I


Washington, July 25.-To give set
tiers and other local users a larger
voice in national forest administration,
tsecretary of Agriculture Houston has
just promulgated a new regulation
which goes into effect at once, provid-
ing means by which the forest serv-
ice may systematically cooperate with
duly organized associations of such
users.
Any association whose members in
clude a majority of the local residents
making use of the national forests may
get together and select committee, to
meet with the local forest officers.
This committee will be recognized in an
advisory capacity in settling questions
which may arise between the forest
service and the public in the use Of
forests.
The exact wording of the regulation
is:
Wherever any association whose
membership includes majority Of the
local residents using a national forest,
or portion thereof, for like purposes,
shall select a committee, an agreement
on the part of which shall be binding
upon the association, such committee,
upon application to the district forester,
may be recognized in an advisory capa-
city on behalf of the association, and
shall be entitled to receive notice of
proposed action and have an opportun-
ity to be heard by the local forest Off
Ger in reference to any proposed chang
es likely to materially affect the use or
interest in the forest or portion thereof
enjoyed by such permittees. The gen.
eral principles of recognition and re-
sponsibility governing cooperation with
livestock associations are herewith ex-
tended so far as they are applicable,
to the other regular lines of business
conducted on the national forests"
The object of this regulation is to
extend what may be called home parti,
cipation in national forest management
It is recognized that the best use Of the
forests in the interest Of the genera
welfare means the promotion Of loca
welfare, and that the forests must be
handled with careful consideration fol
all local interests involved. 1t is rec
ognized also that public confidence il
the spirit of fairness with which indi
vidual citizens are treated is essentia
and that local participation in the set
tlement Of many questions is the bes
possible safeguard against arbitrar.
or unwise decisions by local forest of
ficers.
In other words, it is desired to pre-
vent any local feeling that a westerr
user in contact with the national for
est administrative system is up agains
a far.away bureau at Washington, reT
resented on the ground by forest Of
ficer who can do as he chooses an
against whose actions it is impossibl
to make effective protest In the cas-
Of the grazing regulations method O
cooperation between the forest servic
and users of the forest ranges has bee
developed which is said to have don
away completely with any such feelinj
, Cattle and sheep growers association
not only assist in the settlement Of di
putes concerning individual privilege
but also Join in the formulation Of plar
for the hest use Of local ranges an
; through their national associations al
/. given an opportunity to be heard b
fore regulations which affect their /
dustry as whole are adopted. TT
local associations insure attention
complaints Of unfair action which a
found to be Justified, while on the OF
or hand they automatically dispose
8 many cases Of complaints that a
I found when all the facts are consi
cred not well grounded.
n II is the announced policy Of the d
r partmeut to favor the greatest good
the greatest number, and the local us
IS over others With tho help Of the a
't visory boards now provided FOR, MAJ
..= of the problems affecting iudividua
which the application of such poli
\ involves can be settled by submittii
J them to what is practically the orya
I lied public sentiment Of their ov
\ neighbors, On the other hand the {
! gauization can initiate questions az
Z bring them to the attention Of the ft
I est service backed by the voice Of Il
! majority Of those who are depende
fIupon the forest industries,
\ Already several associations besid
those composed Of stockmen arc coo
7 crating with the forest service, thou
there was NO provision for thoir Of
~ cial recognition before the new rulil