The Alaska daily empire., 1920-12-30
NEW DEPARTMENT DANGEROUS SAYS
 GOVERNOR RIGGS.
Says Alaska Interests Might Suffer If Conservation
 Department Formed.

"I believe that the creation of a
 Department of Conservation would 0e extremely dangerous to the develop ment of Alaska" declared Gov. -Thom- as Riggs today commenting on a mea- sure recently introduced in Congress providing for such d department and outlining it's duties. The measure proposes creation of an executive department with a Secretary appoint ed by the President and having d cabinet position
 Experience" declared the Gov ernor, has taught us that once a bureau is given a foothold in Alaska | it is constantly endeavoring to en- | large it's powers. department headed by a member of the cabinet would have still greater incentive to increase it's influence"
 The purpose of the measure as set forth by it's author is for the pro- posed department ito administer and enforce all of the statutes of the United States having for their ob- ject the conservation of the natural resources of the Nation, particularly those statutes and regulations tend ing toward the conservation of wild life, birds, game, fish, to the conser- vation and protection of the National Forests, to the preservation and pro- tection of national parks and monY- ments and to the conservation and development of mineral resources of the country; and to foster and devel- op among the people of the United States a desire to conserve, rather than to annihiate and obliterate their natural resources, and to use such natural wealth wisely and without abuse or waste"
 The Forest Service and the Bio logical Survey would be transferred from the Department of Agricul- ture to the Department of Conserva' tion. From the Department of Inter- for would be transferred the Geolog ical Survey and the National Park Service. The Bureau of Fisheries, now under the Department of Com !, merce would be given to the Conser- vation Department
 The head of the new bureau would be invested with wide discretionary powers for which provision is made as follows: That the Secretary of Conservation shall have the power to- adopt such course as in his judg- ment may result in the conservation of the natural resources of the United States Or any part thereof whenever an emergency arises and take such action which may seem to him to be wise and in the inter- est of the people of the country; and the said Secretary is also hereby vested with the exclusive power of making leases with private individ- uals Or corporations or of issuing permits to individuals or corpora tions, to take use of any timber water power, water or minerals. orl any other natural resources on or in any of the national paks and mon uments Or national forests which are under the jurisdiction of the United States;" provided such leases or per mits are first approved by the Presi dent of the United States.
 Gov Riggs in speaking concern ing the proposal said: "The creation of a department as outlined might mean that Alaska would never have 1 jurisdiction over it's fisheries even when it becomes a state. or over it's game. It might mean that possibly all public lands would be withdrawn 1 into forest reserves or into agricul-
 tural, grazing or mining units as it I is the tendency of bureaus to advo
 cate. and. worst of all. it would un-
 doubtedly mean that jurisdiction over
 resources now under Federal con
 trol would for all time be continu-
 ed in Washington, four thousand miles away, where every faddist tn tho Cpppp-