Evening star., 1924-05-01
HOOVER UPHOLDS
FISHERIES BILL
Challenges Opponents to Base Oh
jections on Merit of
Measure. .f
ARGUMENTS PERSoNALo
Secretary Says Whole Nation
Backs Conservation.

Secretary Hoover, striking back az
what he terms a campaign of Der.
sonal abuse, has challenged Senator
eriand OF Alaska and the Hearst
newspapers TO declare specifically
whether they favor or oppose the fish,
cries conservation bill" passed by tho
House and pending in the Senate, en-
actment of which he has advocated.
Mr.. Hoovers administration OF
Alaskan fisheries has been criticized
frequently by Delegate Sutherland,
and Senator King was prepared lase
week to introduce q resolution call
ing for an investigation, but decided
to withdraw it. Citing renewed at
tacks upon the Alaskan salmon fish
cries conservation by the Hearst press
quoting Senator King and Delegate
Sutherland" the Secretary, in a state
ment issued late yesterday, asserted
that this publicity campaign can
nave no other purpose than TO aid IN
the defeat of the dill, for there has
not been a word in these s.atem4nts
faVoring the measure itself"
Committees Approval.
THE test OF the character OF tho
renewed attacks today upon the Alas
kan salmon fisheries conservation By
tho Hearst press, quoting Senator
King and. Delegate Sutherland, is
very simple and very direct" said
Mr.. Hoover's statement Does tho
Hearst press or do these gentlemen
favor the conservation bill reported
unanimously out of the House COM
mfttee on merchant marine and fish,
cries after weeks Of investigation.
and reported unanimously out OF the
Senate committee on commerce after
personal investigation on the ground
by members OF that committee?
Here are sixteen senators and
twenty-five representatives on these
committees. OF both parties, unani-
mouSly agreed on a measure for the
saving of these fisheries. 1t already
has passed the House and is before
the Senate. The bill was drafted by
the gentlemen of the House commit
tee with full collaboration of the De
pa artment of Commerce. 1t is the
character OF legislation for saving
pioitation and destruction that have
asked for from every session of Con-
greSS for the last three years. I'm
less such legislation is passed the
greatest salmon nSher1eS IN the WoFlQ
will be lost to the American people
Prevents Moaopolfes-
"One of the features OF this bill is
to prevent monopolies and special
privileges in the fisheries. The de-
partment is on record as having pro-
tested on frequent occasions against
any growth of such monopolies or
privileges This measure is backed
by all of the important bodies in the
United States interested in conserva-
tion-it is opposed around Washing
ton today by some groups of Gamers
and some groups of fishermen.
This publicity campaign can have
no other purpose than to aid in the
defeat OF the bill, for there has not
been word in these statements ia
voring the measure itself. In these
days of credulity the smooth and art
full way to destroy Legislation that
interferes with some peoples pri-
vate interests is, not to oppose the
measure on merit but to slander the
men who have the responsibility OF
protecting interests. If these men
are against the bill let them say so
and give reasons why they do not
approve of it Let the public have
argument based upon the merit o.
the measure itself"