Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-04-20
Orr Gopeyumeut
How 1t Operates
By William Brsckart
DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR

TNDER our system of government.
~ predlcated on alignment OF the
citizens Into two major political par
ties, changes are effected very slow
ly In the matter of expanding. or ae-
compllshing a shrinkage. In any es-
Establishment, or Its functions. Some POI
litician rises up and makes IAN Is
sue" of every proposal of that kind,
and quite obviously he has his fol-
lowing. Thus, oftentImes functions of
government go on long after their
necessity has ceased.
But ] am going to discuss changes
that have come about whether the
political parties desired or not,
changes that were accomplished in
manner comparable In reverse to the
history of the memorable character.
Topsy, who "just growed" They are
centered In the Department of the
Interior, and / say without fear OF
contradiction that no department OF
the government has experienced such
NialSGS Will lGSRC1L w ALiRVi S1AN@
of Its several units.
1t was not SO many years ago, less
than half century, that the country
looked to the Department OF the In
terror In connection with the grave
Indian problem 1t looked to the same
agency concerning disposition OF the
vast public lands. and the same agency
was In charge OF all veterans PEN
sions, though the number WAS small
as compared to now.
In the meantime, the West was de-
veloping. Public lands were being alb
sorhed and the number OF Indians was
decreasing and the blood was being
diffused. Far-seeing statesmen recog-
nIzed that conservation of the beauty
spots required early action. and pres
ervation OF them as national parks
got under way.
The course OF the times carried with
1t the constituent elements OF new
problems, such as administration Of
Irrigation projects, As the arid states
received the overflow of population
Reclamation OF lands was the premise
from which the movement had to pro-
coed.
Thus, the Department of the In
terror saw It's Influence wane In some
sections of the country and ON some
matters of national import. and OBJ
served It expanding tn others. The
public domain has declined in size
and Importance until the general land
office Is only fraction Of Its former
self, though still nm office Of conse-
quence and the office of commission
err Of Indian affairs. once among the
powerful Offices Of the government.
has declined In Importance CORE
spondngly with the shrinkage of In
dian population and problems.
Through the years, OF course the
department has received additions
such as the office Of education. and the
national park service has been built
up as the nation sought to conserve
for the future the beauty spots and
recreational grounds naturally pre-
scented In virgin form. The develop
ment of the great resources of Alaska
to d large extent Is under the d.
rection of the secretary OF the interior
who has the Alaska railroad under
his administration. There la also the
geological survey. an agency for study
OF the nations geologic map.
As to the changes that have come
In the department since Its inception,
however. none stand out more than
does the expansion Of influence through
construction and management OF IT.
rigation projects. Actually, none bear
more importantly on the economic and
West OF yore The director Of reclaim
nation has been eyerting this influ-
ence Of the federal government for
80 years, and II one may use the
constant calls for additional legisla-
ton as criterion, the limit OF power
and influence OF that office Is yet afar
off. Irrigation is only In Its infancy.
AS the work In connection with
educating the Indians and providing
for their future welfare and protec-
ton Of their funds grows less, and as
the area of the public domain declines.
the functions Of government decline
there, but In another part of the great
building that houses the department
the functions Of government are ex-
pandlng that the national parks may
be protected and preserved for future
generations. And 80 1t Is, too, with
the commissioner OF education who Is
the lason between the state school
systems and the federal government,
as we'll as serving In cooperation with
all educational institutions through
out the country.
1T Is not intended In this discussion
to depreciate the value of the work
done by any of the units making up
the Department OF the, Interior. The
purpose Is to show how changing
of conditions, resulting from growth
OF the nation itself, has brought about