Our organization went on record as approving your bill H. R. 2142, and I have written to several Congressmen that I know in Washington in favor of it. We feel very strongly that with only 32 million acres set aside by all means in 20 years for waterfowl, we haven't much chance of gaining the other 7 million that are necessary in the next 5 to 7 years unless there is some compulsory law requiring the use of funds for that purpose. In the past we have opposed earmarking of funds, but the administrators of both the Federal and State conservation organizations have changed our minds. Even then we have changed them reluctantly, because such action would not be necessary if our administrators were sufficiently informed of conservation principles and stuck to them in spite of personal and political pressures. In backing this bill to earmark duck-stamp funds for the purposes set forth in your bill we are protesting the influences which prevent equitable distribution of funds on basic principles and the tendency to spend them where uninformed pressures dictate. As long as those forces are loose in this country the tendency is going to be toward more and more earmarked funds, and as long as they are earmarked for such basic necessities as your bill is we will back them wholeheartedly and to the limit. We hope that your bill is withdrawn from committee at the earliest possible moment so that it need not be caught in the last minute rush and suffer the fate of so many of them at that time. We plan to carry an article in the next News and Views urging all clubs to write you and other Congressmen to get this bill on the floor and to back it wholeheartedly. Sincerely, LES WOERPEL, Executive Secretary. EXECUTIVE CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF THE WISCONSIN CONSERVATION CONGRESS Hon. LESTER R. JOHNSON, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON: The executive council of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress met at Stevens Point on April 23, 1955, at which time a number of conservation problems and programs were discussed which have im. plications on a national basis and which also directly involve the State of Wisconsin. As you know, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress is made up of 71 county committees whose members are elected at public hearings held in May of each year. The 71 county committees in turn elect a 22-man executive council to act for them during the year, and these councilmen meet 4 times a year to consider conservation matters primarily concerned with fishing, hunting, and trapping and other related matters which affect conservation of our natural resources. At the Stevens Point meeting on April 23, a resolution was adopted by the executive council directing the chairman to ask Wisconsin's representatives in Congress to do everything in their power to obtain favorable consideration and passage of a bill introduced by Congressman Lester Johnson, H. R. 2142 (which provides that 40 percent of the duck-stamp funds shall be earmarked for the acquisition of land and water areas suitable for breeding, nesting, and resting of migratory waterfowl). It is our understanding that this bill is now being considered by the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Closely allied with this resolution was another passed by the executive council asking our Representatives at Congress to do whatever they can to protect, preserve, and maintain the wet lands of this country, not only for the value they have for wildlife, but also for the value they represent in maintaining water supplies, preventing quick runoff, which in some cases creates downstream floods which destroy life and property. We of the executive council and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress sincerely ask you to do everything in your power to help maintain and perpetuate these important wet lands of our great Nation. Sincerely, JOHN R. LYNCH, Chairman, Wisconsin Conservation Congress. (Whereupon, at 11:50 a. m. Wednesday, May 4, 1955, the hearing adjourned.) BOILERS OF CARGO VESSELS HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE UNITED STATES SENATE EIGHTY-FOURTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON S. 743 A BILL TO AUTHORIZE BIENNIAL INSPECTION OF THE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 60767 MARCH 24, 1955 Printed for the use of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce UNITED STATES WASHINGTON: 1955 CONTENTS Herbert R. O'Conor, Washington counsel, American Merchant Marine Institute, Inc., 1701 K Street NW., Washington, D. C..-----Letter from Dewey, Ralph B., representing the Pacific American Steamship Written statement of Page 14 7 15 13 Spencer, Lyndon, president, Lake Carriers' Association, dated March 21, 1955. 16 Reports from: Department of Commerce, dated March 23, 1955. III 6646 |