The Wrangell sentinel. (Wrangell, Alaska) 1909-current, 1940-03-15
FOREST SERVICE
sAYE1-BYs GOSH


these recent years has been fought
out between the Senate, the White
House and the Interior Department
with the result that transfer OF the
Forest Service to the Interior De-
partment has been prevented-for
the time at least.
It began two years ago when the
first blanket Reorganization Bill
came to Congress from the White
House. Immediately western stock
men, farmers chambers of commerce
and others were in a panic. At last,
they suspected, the Forest Service
would be snafched from the Agri-
culture department and given to the
Interior Fighting such a change has
become almost a religion to the rug
ged West where the Forest Service
is regarded as the one unsmirched
member of the governmental family.
Backed by demands of stoekmen
and others from his home state. Sen
ator Pittnan OF Nevada introduced
an amendment TO prevent transfer
Iekes, one OF Pittmen's finest enc
mics, would break his foot to get
the Forest Service.
It was a touch and go situation
with the Administration. If the for
estry amendment should go through,
it might open the way for a flock of
other amendments preventing other
consultations. Passage of Pittman's
amendment seemed certain.
Senator Byrnes of South Carolina,
in charge of the bill, went hastily
into action. He virtually promised
Senator Pittman that the Forest Ser
vice would be let alone. Senator
Barley of Kentucky, the majority
leader and normal senatorial spokes-
man for the White House, was even
more emphatic.
Il am not in favor of transfer
ring the Forest Service" Barley
said, and l have not the slightest
fear it is going to be transferred"
The assurance satisfied several
likely supporters of the Pittman
amendment, including several mem
bers from western forest states, who
then voted against it. The amend
ment was defeated Ultimately the
whole Reorganization Bill was lost
But, last spring. up came the sub
stitute Reorganization Bill with
Byrnes again in charge. The bill did
not mention the Forest Service but
in his letter of transmission the
President said that subject would
be dealt with later. Byrnes asked
Pittman if again he intended to
submit his amendment, and was
firmly assured by the Neyadan that
he would unless he received written
assurance that the Forest Service
would not be touched.
Byrnes teIephoned the White
House and the President telephoned
Pittman with assurances for the
Forest Service. But afterward Pitt
man reminded Byrnes that he want
ed 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 Bur-
eau, have no hesitation in telling
you that 1 have no thought of trans
ferring them to the Interior Depart
ment."
He added that by getting the pub
people to work together he pre-
vented duplication of work and ex-
pected to produce results without
any drastic change in organization. >"
Subsequent correspondence brought
to Pittman another letter from the
President outlining the basis on
which the Interiors Public Lands
division would work together with
the Forest service-perhaps in some
sections under the same roof-but
without actual consolidation.
Pittman and the western forest
state members felt treasured. Pitt
man did not offer his amendment.
The Reorganization Bill was en-
acted.
Almost year passed. Then, few
days ago. Senator Byrnes came once
again to. Pittman advising him that
an executive order was coming down
transferring the Forest Service to
Ickes. Would Pittman oppose 1t?
Pittman assured him he would.
He would recall Byrnes' and Bark
ley,s assurances on the Senate floor.
He. would ask Byrnes and Barkley
If they were "trifling" with the
Senate. Moreover, he would recall