The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-05
WASHINGTON
DAYBOOK
By PRESTON GROVER

fought out between the Senate, the White
House and the Interior Department with the
result that transfer of the Forest Service to
the Interior Department has been prevented
for the time at least.
1t began two years ago when the first
blanket reorganization Bill came to Congress
from the White House. Immediately western
stockmen, farmers, chambers of commerce and
others were in a panic. At least they suspected
the Forest Service would be snatched from the
Agriculture department and given to Interior.
Fighting such a change has become almost a
religion to the rugged West where the Forest
Service is regarded as the one unsmirched
member of the government family.
Backed by demands of stockmen and others
from his home state, Senator Pittman of Ne.
vada introduced an amendment to prevent
transfer to the Interior. He knew Secretary
Ickes, one of Pittmans finest enemies, would
break his foot to get the Forest Service.
1t was a touch and go situation with the
Administration. If the forestry amendment
should go through, it might open the way for
a flock of other amendments preventing other
consultations. Passage Of Pittman's amend.
ment seemed certain.
Senator Byrnes of South Carolina, in charge
Of the bill, went hastily into action. He vir.
tually promised Senator Pittman that the For.
est Service would Ae left alone. Senator Barley
Of Kentucky, the majority leader and normal
senatorial spokesman for the White House, was
even more emphatic.
II am not in favor of transferring the For.
est Service" Barley said, land I have not
the slightest fear it is going to be transferred"
The President Assures
The assurance satisfied several likely sup.
porters of the Pittman amendment, including
several members from western forest states,
who then voted against it. The amendment was
defeated. Ultimately the whole REORGANIZATION
Bill was lost.
But, last spring, up came the substitute Re.
organization Bill, with Byrnes again in charge.
The bill did not mention the Forest Service
but in his letter of the President
said that subject would be dealt with later.
Byrnes asked Pittman if again he intended to
submit his amendment, and was firmly as.
sured by the Nevadan that he would unless
he received written assurance that the Forest
Service would not be touched.
Byrnes telephoned the White House and the
President telephoned Pittman with assurances
for the Forest Service. But afterward Pittman
reminded Byrnes that he wanted something
in writing, because, he said, he some day
might have to explain why he did not offer the
amendment.
That same day the President wrote Pittman
saying:
I'm regard to the Forestry Bureau, I have
no hesitation in telling you that I have no
thought of transferring them to the Interior
Department."
He added that by getting the public lands
Interior) and forestry people to work together
ne had prevented duplication Of work and ex-
pected to produce results without any drastic
change in organization"
Saved-By Gosh
subsequent correspondence brought to Pitt.
man another letter from the President outlin.
ing the basis on which the Interiors Public
Lands division would work together with the
Forest Service-perhaps in some sections I'm.
der the same roof-but without actual console.
dalton.
Pittman and the western forest state mem.
bers felt treasured. Pittman did not offer his
amendment. The Reorganization Bill was en-
acted.
Almost a year passed. Then, a few days
ago, Senator Byrnes came once again to Pitt
man advising him that an executive order was
coming down transferring the Forest Service
to Ickes. Would Pittman oppose it.
Pittman assured him he would. He would re-
call Byrnes' and Barkley's assurances on the
Senate floor. He would ask Byrnes and Bark.
ley if they were '~trifling'' with the Senate.
Moreover, he would read all the Presidents
correspondence on it, which had already been
published in a few Western papers.
Byrnes expects to be in the Senate a long
time. He knew the statements he had made
would put him in an embarrassing position
after the assurances he had given. He went
down to the White House.
Senator Bankhead, chairman OF the joint
House-Senate forestry committee, also went
down to the White House. What they said can
only be conjectured but within a day or SO
reliable sources" distributed reports that Sec
rotary Ickes would not get the Forest Service
j at least not for the present