The Washington herald., 1922-03-07
Capper Attacks Transfer
of Service to Interior
Department.
LEADERS THREATEN
RETALIATORY MOVE
Advance Plan to Place
Public Domain Under
Agriculture.

The farm bloc in Congress will
oppose the bill drafted by Secretary
Fall providing for the transfer OF
the Forestry Service from the Ag-
riculture Department to the Depart
ment of Interior, leaders Of the bloc
Indicated yesterday.
This announcement follows the
statement by Secretary Fall sstur-
day that he has appealed 20 the
President to protect him from
vicious attacks cmanating from
the Department OF Agriculture"
These attacks. the Secretary saws.
are results Of propaganda sent al
over the United States by AEricuI.
ture officials" Widespread critl-
cism has been directed at Secretary
Fall for what is termed by conscr-
vationists an effort to destroy tho
work of the Forestry Service AMI
deliver the natural resources OF
Alaska to cspitallstic exploitation.
This criticism. the Secretary 'asserts.
has been fostered by the Forestry
| Service.
CaPPer Voices Opposition.
Commenting on the proposed
transfer advocated by the Secretary
OF Interior. Senator Capper. leader
OF the farm bloc, said YESTERDAY.
Personally I am opposed TO this
transfer, snd believe every mern-
ber of the farm bloc will oppose
II. Regardless Of what recomme nd
alton is made by the admiristra-
tion. we will fight this legislation.
| ] do not think there Is chance
that the Forestry Service transfer
will be approved by Congress"
Senator Robinson. also member
Of the farm bloc. last night ex-
pressed a like opinion. The For
estry Service seems to be doing all
right where it is. do not know
Of anyone besides Secretary Fail
: who wants oh- transfer. ] viii or
pose any legislation 20 place the
service in the Interior Department
Would Transfer Domain.
Not only are the efforts of Secre-
| tary Fall meeting with opposition
in Congress. but a bill is pendinS
before the Agriculture Committee
OF the House providing for the
transfer OF the entire public 90
main from the Department OF In
! terror to the Forestry Service. ThlS
I measure was introduced. il is sail.
as a warning Of what will be done
unless efforts to move the Forestry
| Service cease.
Representative Gilbert y. Hau-
gen, of Iowa, chairman Of the
House Agriculture Committee, said
I 40,
posed TO the proposed transfer Of
the Forest Bureau. Unless efforts
in that direction cease. / have as
surance OF the passage of . bill
which will take the public domain
from the Interior and place it un-
der the Forest Service in the De
! partment OF Agriculture"
Fall Explains Grievance.
Commenting on the adminIstra-
tion OF public lands. leaders Of the
farm bloc pointed TO the income de-
| rived from these lands under the
Forest Service. No income is de-
/ rived IL is said. from rental fees
on the public domain under the De-
! partment Of Interior.
In an interview yesterday after
noon, Secretary Fall indicated that
his main grievance is against Off
| cials Of the Forest Service rather
than the entire Agriculture Depart
ment. IL is from that source. he
says. that the so-called propaganda
against himself has come.
Snys 4. :. Must Take Risk.
! Referring 10 his plan for develop
ing natural resources in Alaska.
whereby the Governmnt would
build and operate industries until
they become self-sUstaininC. Sec
retary Fall said:
There is no indication that this
would lead to illeGitimate acts.
There is no reason to believe that
bloated corporations and predatory
interests would profit by this plan.
The operations that are necessary
for the development of natural re-
sources are too large for individual
prospectors. Either the govern
ment must take the risk or il must
give private capital a chance to
make larger profits"
Secretary Falls plan for develop
ing Alaska is briefly as follows:
Have Congress appropriate a re-
volving fund TO be used by the De-
partment Of Interior in sinking oil
wells, building saw mills, smelterS.
will be run by the Interior Depart
ment until they become self-sus-
tanning, at which time they will he
sold to private corporations.
Says Japan Is Getting Timber.
Severe criticism was directed at
the Department OF Agriculture by
Secretary Fall for permitting large
shipments Of Alaska timber TO ia
pan and China. Large quantities
Of high grade lumber. he asserts.
are being shipped TO these coun-
tries instead Of supplying American
markets In addition TO lumber for
building purposes. quantities Of
spruce are being shipped to Japan
for the manufacture OF airplanes.
he declared.
Il don't suppose Secretary wals
lace is doing this deliberately"
said Secretary Fall, but IL Is being
done just the same. II I get con-
troll Of the Forest Service I prom
ise that not another foot OF that
kind OF material will reach Japaa"'
Asks More Liberal Inv.
Under the present leasing a~tJ
Secretary Fall stated, IL is possibly
for corporations TO obtain Up i
$500 acres OF mineral lard Tor
velopment. This size tract. he/<S{
clares, is not large enough tot
tify the risks assumed by c/ a.
. In prospecting for ore.