STATE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENTS 183 



suits may be overcome by various coordinating devices but 

 more often in actual practice the inherent defects of the 

 independent board system are allowed to develop unchecked. 



It is apparent, therefore, that there are two factors that 

 must be taken into account in setting up an administrative 

 unit to conserve wild life. First, it must not be allowed to 

 become the football of politics and second, it must be made 

 to fit into the administrative system as a whole. It is be- 

 lieved that a third type of administrative system, the con- 

 servation department, meets both of these requirements. It 

 offers a solution to the problem of administrative organiza- 

 tion, both from the standpoint of the political scientist who 

 is chiefly interested in efficient administration of the state 

 government as a whole, and from that of the conserva- 

 tionist whose aim is the efficient administration of wild life 

 resources. 



This plan properly integrates conservation activities in the 

 departmental hierarchy of the whole state administration 

 and by placing all conservation work undertaken by the state 

 under one head should provide a coordinated program for 

 them all in relation to one another. It proposes to vest 

 control over all conservation activities, not only of wild life, 

 but also of state forests, parks, and other state-owned lands, 

 in a department of conservation headed by a single indi- 

 vidual appointed by the governor either for a fixed term or 

 to hold office at his pleasure. The latter proposal seems 

 upon its face to defeat the aims of the conservationists by 

 putting the department in politics, but in practice it has 

 worked out very well and has resulted in the commissioner 

 of conservation remaining in office for a longer period of 

 time than he customarily would have done with a stated 

 term. 



All officials under the commissioner up to and including 

 the directors of the various divisions should be appointed 



