, 1923-06-14

been @ provided for those who wish to bring thei.
bits OF native America eA ae for u you hhe Tsey yn aEs tSe
pie TO Visit Them sh and ie see them PARKS ps tx ,n of the nR2 sSs
name e Of the more so 5ssr yoe5 io ! ,a fSE A%e e r. In the he
guest 10
director STEPHEN T. Mather of the national park
service is still on the job-another factor whose
Importance can hardly be overestimated from the
viewpoint of the national park enthusiast. For
beyond question Director Mather Is n rara avis.
He's rich. can take the time from his private bust
ness and Is so fond of the national parks that he
worries himself half-sick over them. His salary
is a small part of what he gives to the parks each
year. He certainly has accomplished n lot In hs
eight years of service. Even In the most acrimonI.
GUS debates In congress, somebody usually takes oc-
casion to pay him a compliment. generally refer
ring to MIN as "the highest type of public servant"
The SiNty-seventh congress March 4, 1921 to
March 3, 1929 was practically one continuous bat
tie ground. A victory for the national park forces
with far-reaching results was that In the fight over
the hill for the AIl-Year National park in and about
the Mescalero Indian reservation in New Mexico.
Senator Bursum of New Mexico got it through The
senate. In the house Secretary Fall got II referred
to the Indian Affairs committee instead of the
public lands committee and In person supported IL
at the committee hearing. The proposed area. ac-
cording to Its opponents, was everything that a
national park ought not to he; even New Mexico
rose in revolt against II. The bill died I'm commit.
tee and is said to be too dead to be resuscitated.
Another exceedingly important victory was the
defeat OF the bill of Senator Walsh OF Montana
for the dammlng of Yellowstone lake for CONNER
cial irrigation purposes. Senator Walsh clrcular.
lied congress and made speeches in Montana for
the bin. The result was the election OF n con.
servation Montana congressman over a dam nor.
tisan and the death of the bill In committee.
The battle over the Barbour bin for the Roosa-
velt-Sequoia National park Gan enlarged So
quoia) ended In a draw, with the national nork
forces holding the advantage. They forced Rar.
bour to 0mend his bill by inserting n clnuse on.
empting the park from the control Of the water.
power commission. The Los Angeles-Southern cal
ifornia Edison company interests through tho l,ts
Representative Osborne gave notice that ,bov
would offer IA water-power amendment. Congress.
sional courtesy" prevented n vote, owing 10 tho
illness and death of Representative Osborne.
The Slemp bill, for an Appalachian national nart
of 5000 acres of mountain top to be donated 10 the
government, was approved by Secretary Fall n,
was fought by the national park forces on ,ha
ground that the area was unsuitable. The Hill dled
In committee.
SO far. so good. say the national mark forces
but there Is yet a stlll bigger battle TO be won
the complete safeguarding In perpetuIty Of nil m.
tional parks against every economical and com.
mercinl use OF whatever kind. The American Az.
ISOLATION for the Advancement OF Science passed
n resolution defining the Issue Mt It's last meeting
in Washington. This organization Is international
has 1900 members In the United States and Cam
ada and at Its head Is DR.. Charles ID. walcott. ex-
ecutive secretary OF the Smithsonian institution
The preamble sets forth that the national parks Of