The Washington herald., 1922-03-11
Representative Frear De-
clares Situation Is
Serious.
BATTLE PLANNED
BY FARM BLOC
Roosevelt Would Have
Fought Service Trans
fer, Is Statement.

transfer the Forest Service from
the Agricultural Department to the
Dc partment of Interior have created
a vrey serious situation" declared
Representative James A. Frear, Of
Wisconsin. addressing a luncheon of
the National Popular Government
League at the New Ebbitt Hotel
yesterday. rs
Representative Frear. who pre-
sided. asserted that the movement
back of the proposed transfer is far
from public spirited. One reason
! IL behind the move" he said, land
that is selfish motives of men who
! would exploit our natural re-
sources"
Resents Curry's Statement.
Agricultural interests in both
Houses of Congress were aroused
yesterday following the assertion
by Representative Charles +. Curry,
chairman of the House Committee
on Territories, that he would force
passage of his bill transferring the
Forest Service. Representative J.
y. Tincher, of Kansas. declared yes
terday that Mr.. Curry's bill woul1
meet the united opposition Of the
farm element.
Secretary Fall has fired Col.
Greeley and Secretary Wallace" d.
clared Mr.. Tincher. II suppose ne
will be firing me next, but he vii,
have to fire about $50 members of
Congress IL he expects to trangfer
the Forest Service to the Interior
Department"
Tells Of RooseveIt's Fears,
Opponents Of the proposed trans
fer declared that members of Con-
gress are being organized to combat
pending legislation providing for
remover; of the Forest Service.
Speaking before the luncheon at
the New Ebbitt Hotel yesterday,
Harry \. Slattery. attorney for the
National Conservation Association,
said:
Theodore Roosevelt put the ma
tional forests in the hands Of the
Department OF Agriculture because
he thought that was the safest
place to protect them from being
stolen from their rightful owners
the people of the United States.
Because he considered ths conser-
vation of this vast store of public
wealth one of the greatest achieve
ments of his life, Roosevelt, IL he
were alive. would be right here In
Observation-Disclosures the attempt
Of Secretary Fall to transfer these
forests to his department.
Defends Col. Greeley.
Defending the Department Of
Agriculture. Mr.. Slattery declared
Secretary wallace and Col. Greeley
were administering efficiently the
Forest Service when the Depart
ment of Interior launched its plan
for transfer of the service from
the Agriculture Department.
Citing the record of Secretary
Fall in the Senate, Mr.. Slattery
stated that the conservation bloc
had always regarded Mr.. Fall as
dogged opponent. should the
transfer be made" he declared.
Secretary Fall. as administrator
of 156,000.00O s.cfes of rich mineral
and timber lands. would have large
powers as to their disposition. In
his speech in New York he openly
declared that Alaska should be
opened up to big business From
this and his eulogy of Bei,inger.
1t is easy to understand who would
benefit under his administration OF
the national forests"
Wood Praised Service.
After a trip to Alaska, Mr.. Stat
terry declared. Gen. Leonard Wood
said of the Forest Service: 1T is
one of the most efficient branches
of the government"
Four bills to transfer the Forest
Service to the Interior Department
are before Congress. Two Of the
bills are said to have been pigeon
holed because the gathering opposi-
tion, while the King bill and the
latest Curry bill are alive Leaders
believe that the fight will develop
over one of these measures. In
view of the announcement of Repre-
sentative Curry that he would push
the fight on his bill, regardless Of
opposition of the farm bloc, it is
thought this will be the bone Of
contention"
Another Scheme Seen.
In addition to pending legislation,
transfer of the Forest Service may
be effected through the department
reorganization bill, which will be
introduced upon completion Of the
work of tn Reorganization Board
headed by Walter F. Brown One
report presented to the President
by Mr.. Brown, it Is stated, was re-
ferred back to his board for recon-
sideration following opposition IN
the Cabinet. This report. which was
made early in January, recom-
mended transfer of the Forest
Service. A subsequent report was
submitted January rs. according to
Mr.. Brown. on which the President
has announced no decisfen Recon-
mendations OF the second report
have not been revealed.
Tie American Forestry Associa-
tion announced yesterday that in
addition to scores of letters from
commercial organizations, it has
received editorial protest from
many newspapers against the pro
posed transfer.
Among the papers protesting the
transfer are: Christian Science
Monitor. Newark Evening News,
Outlook. the Country Gentleman,
Milwaukee Journal. San Francisco
Journal. Bangor, Maine, CONNER
,tot C1n@L.--