Evening star., 1947-01-31
Public Relations Work
0fInterior Department
Under Fire at Probe
Surplus Property Handling
Also Criticized Sharply
By Senote Committee
By Joseph YOUNG

The public relations and sur
plus property activities of the
Interior Department were sharp
ly criticized today by members of
the Senate Civil Service Com
mittee as the group prepared to
wind up it's investigation of the
departments personnel prac-
ticeS.
Carlton Skinner, public relations
director of the department, was
called before the committee for
questioning regarding publication of
a monthly slick paper magazine, the
Reclamation Era, which is put out
by the departments Reclamation
Bureau.
Senator Thye, Republican, of
Minnesoa asked the witness if he
thought the magazine was neces-
sary and what the cost of the pub
lication was. The witness replied
that the information division had
nothing to do with the publication
of the magazine, which is put out
by the bureau.
Asked About Magazine.
Thumbing through some of the
issues of the magazine, Senator
Thye read aloud the following titles
of articles: "T Struck 1t Rich,
New Promise in the Holy Land
and Adventure of Budget
The other committee members
also were shown an issue which had
a "cheesecake" picture on its cover
showing three attractive girls in
bathing suits.
"Do you think this magazine is
necessary?" asked Senator Thye,
who was acting chairman at today's
session.
Mr.. Skinner replied that the mag
azine was distributed in the Western
States where many sections are af-
fected by reclamation projects and
the magazine contained helpful
articles.
Some of this sounds like pulp
magazine stuff" George Riley, staff
committee director, said.
Land OmclaI QueStl0ned.
The committee also closely ques-
toned Joel D. Wolfsohn, assistant
director of the Bureau Of Land Man
agement, concerning the Interior
Departments surplus property ac-
tivities. Also questioned was Craign
Kershaw, chief of the surplus prop
erty division.
Questioning brought out that out
side appraisers were hired by the de-
partment to reappraise surplus prop
erty holdings of the Government.
An outside appraiser was paid $14,-
600 to assess the value of Govern
ment property in Alaska, the COM
bmittee was told.
The committees preoccupation
with the surplus property and pub
licity activities Of the department
delayed the questioning of top In
terror officials regarding their per-
sonal lives. Mr.. Riley said he would
ask these officials about their re-
ported racing stables and other out
side interests
Committee members did not dis
close the names of the officials to
be questioned but said the men
were in positions "of influence in
the department.
What we want to know is how
these men on their modest salaries
are able to maintain strings of race
horses and live in glorified man
sions," Mr.. Riley said.
The committee is expected to
wind up its investigation of the
Interior Department the first of
next week and on Tuesday will be-
gin a study of the Justice Depart
ment personnel situation.
Navy Officials Called.
What ostensibly started out as a
committee investigation of alleged
overstafing of Federal personnel
has branched out into many sided
study of the ins and outs of Gov
ernment operation.
The committee yesterday heard
(See CIVIL SERVICE, Page A-6D