Report, Mr. E. T. Allen
Chairman Allen then read the following report from the Section Committee on Permanent Organization:
Your committee believes that the consensus of opinion of the lumbermen and foresters assembled at the invitation of the forestry committee of the Fourth National Conservation Congress is about as follows:
1. That the Congress has not so far included satisfactory facilities for securing for forest matters the attention they deserve at such a meeting.
2. That the facilities to be desired should provide for two main activities:
(a) The general discussion of forest Conservation needed to bring its importance properly before the public.
(b) The meeting for mutual help, in practical constructive detailed work of the men actually engaged in organized forest work.
3. That unless there is early assurance of such facilities hereafter, the Congress’ support from forest interests is in danger.
4. That private, state and federal forest interests are anxious to support the Congress and in turn to receive all benefit to be derived from it.
5. That what is clearly needed is a greater recognition of forestry upon its general program and arrangement for sectional forest work outside the general meeting, both to be carefully planned in advance so as to be practical, effective and without lost time.
6. That probably similar steps should be taken to provide for other branches of Conservation work, so that all may unite in perpetuating the usefulness of the Congress.
7. That the duty of your committee is to bring about the things outlined above, or at least to suggest some means of doing so.
After careful consideration of what these seven points involve, your committee feels that the very fact that inadequacy in the past has prevented as wide an attendance as desirable, prevents us from conferring at this time as fully with all agencies involved as would be sure to get the best result, and that in particular we are at a great disadvantage in being unable to confer with the executive officers of the 1913 Congress not yet chosen.
For these reasons we recommend as our very best judgment that this meeting correct us as far as may be necessary in stating its beliefs and desires and then leave working out the detail until we can offer the executive officials of the next Congress the courtesy of consulting with them, with the understanding, however, that there shall be no negligence or unnecessary delay and that long before the next Congress all these matters shall be arranged in detail and given the necessary publicity.
Your committee consequently recommends further either that it be given instructions to act as suggested, or that it be discharged and the duties outlined be added to those of the committee of three already appointed to discuss similar questions. We believe that a faithful attempt to work the matter out in this way will be more satisfactory than trying to settle matters at this session. There is ample time if we do not waste it, and less danger of error.
The report was adopted, following the suggestion that the Committee on Permanent Organization be discharged and its duties imposed upon the permanent co-operative committee, including E. T. Allen, Prof. H. S. Graves and J. B. White.
Mr. Allen, being called out to assist in revising the resolutions of the general Congress, asked Mr. Sterling to take the chair, and suggested the reading of a paper sent by Chief Forester Graves, outlining the policy of the Forest Service.