Evening star., 1941-03-21
Hearing Airs Views
On Proposed Shift Of
Forestry Department
Byrd Makes No Speech;
Senator Friend and
H. Lee Hoffman in ScuffIe
BY BEN Fl. PEARSE,

ANNAPOLIS, Md, March 21.-
The proposal to remove the State
Department of Forestry and Geology
from the jurisdiction of DR.. H. c.
Byrd and the University of Maryland
was vigorously opposed and sup
ported yesterday at hearings before
the Senate Chesapeake Bay and
Tributaries Committee.
At the morning hearing devoted
to opponents of the measure, spon-
Sored by the administration to COM
bine all conservation activities under
a State Board of Natural Resources,
representatives of farm groups, the
university college of agriculture and
extension service, county agricul-
tural agents, women's organizations
and soil conservation experts filled
the large House chamber and over
flowed into the halls.
! During the hearing, DR.. Byrd
made no speech, but afterward is
sued statement opposing the bill
and declared that the proposed uni
/ f1cation of conservation agencies was
offered without any sound basis in
practical experience.
PropOnent "Pickets" Parade.
/ Proponents of the measure had
their inning in the afternoon after
| juvenile ''pickets" bearing signs urg-
| ing support of the bill had paraded
through the Statehouse corridors
and a beauty lobby" of young
women had pinned ribbons on pass
ing legislators asking passage of the
bill.
The afternoon hearing was sched-
uled to end with showing of stere-
opticon views illustrating soil ero-
sion in the State, but was actually
finished with scuffie between Sen
ator Clifford Friend, Republican, Of
Garrett County and H. Lee Hoff-
man, former president of the Mary
land outdoor Life Federation, lee
turer, during the stereopticon show.
Mr. Friend charged one of the pic
lures showing alleged undernour-
ished children in Garrett County
were posed" and not characteristic
of the county, which Mr.. Hoffman
denied. An exchange of words fol-
lowed and the Garrett County leg
iSlator struck out with his right
hand. No serious damage was done
and the two were quickly separated.
Opponents of the bill stressed the
excellent results that had been &C
complished under the present sys-
tenn, which makes the Forestry De-
partment an integral part of the
State Department of Agriculture.
Pictured as Tree Farming"
Forestry is nothing but tree
farming" said Roy Brookes, Hartford
County farmer and dairyman, who
introduced speakers against the
bill. THE problem of soil erosion
is one of the greatest the farmers of
America have to face today and
cannot be separated from forestry"
Mr.. Brookes was member of Gov.
| O'Copor'S committee to study the
conservation problem and concurred
in all its recommendations except
that to remove the Forestry Depart
ment from the university's juris-
| diction.
DR.. T. B. Symons, dean of the
College of Agriculture and director
of the University Extension Service,
declared the situation 'pitiful" when
1t was necessary to come to q hear
ing TO defend system which had
demonstrated 1t was practical and
successful.
IF ever there was bill with
snakes in 1t, this is the bill,' he
asserted.
| Despite many attempts to remove
the Forestry Department from the
Department of Agriculture, the Fed
eral Government had resisted
changes after extensive study, he
pointed out.
Mrs. Edwin Frick of Laytonsville.
president of the Associated Women
of the Maryland Farm Bureau, stated
that her organization was whole
heartedly behind the present Soup
and opposed to any change.
Opposed by Tobacco Man.
Joseph H. Blandford of Brandy
wine, representing the Prince
Georges County and the Southern
Maryland Tobacco Growers Asso-
citation, also opposed the suggested
transfer and Endorsed operation of
the present setup under the Uni.
versity Agricultural Department.
| More than 40 speakers, represent
| :