140 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



"Am holding up your instructions to give itemized scale. Have stepped it up 

 to 'G. P." 'X' promised it to 'D' and 'S' sort of agreed with him. I argued the 

 case before 'G. P.' against 'X' and 'S' last week and 'G. P.' said he wanted to 

 hear more before deciding the case. Guess Til get 'em .lext time. Wasn't 

 loaded heavy enough." 



Breen evidently feared that I would commit the office in regard to 

 grazing details. His advice is illuminating : 



"Don't promise a durned scoundrel a durned thing like . . . Tell them 

 what conditions are; what the prospect is, but never let them nail you down. 

 Too many things are liable to happen : if a change is absolutely necessary, that 

 would not give them what you promised. They never get over being mad. 

 It looks as though it would be easy for them to get a permit for 1,000 head of 

 cattle and that is all I would tell them or any one else in a similar deal." 



On December 6 : 



"Inspectors are now meeting and I believe the promotions will most all be 

 made and that even guards will get the $T5 per month before examina- 

 tion . . . I'm sort of jumping all ways now. Inspectors' meeting mornings 

 and trying to keep up current work afternoons. Think all things possible will 

 be shuffled over to the supervisors in the field for them to do. I squelched the 

 itemized scale — inspectors all decided with me, so it don't go. I am hammering 

 on 'B' on the Greenlaw scale and he is with me on the full scale as it stands. 

 It may go through if he has his way. All officers on reserve except inspectors 

 are going to be put under the supervisor. Am on a commission to reduce 

 all supplies and forms to the least possible number. . . . Guess if any more 

 comes up I will have to split up and work in sections."' 



On December 13. Breen evidently did not find things to his liking, for 

 he wrote : 



"Kids! Kids! Kids! Some day they may grow up, but some of them 

 never will. Been trying to hunt up something to soak you on officially, but 

 have not found it yet, so look out." 



In his letter of December 19, Breen gives additional advice in regard 

 to grazing permits : 



"First, don't pay any attention to promises any one claims that I made — you 

 know what my attitude is concerning promises and you will make no mistake 

 by not considering them, for while I advised them of what might be. I have 

 also plainly said that no promises of anything went. That is ... If I had 

 made any would have told you. . . . 'L. E. B.' will have to take his chances 

 like the rest on the actual standing. That was my agreement. He was to take 

 what was rightfully his just like in all other cases." 



