A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 761 



paying for the timber at a rate so low as to make the transaction profitable to the 

 trespassers. Not only was the mandatory legal penalty of $10 per tree not 

 exacted but the so-called confessions of judgment for the larger trespasses 

 were made before justices of the peace in a manner not allowed by law, and the 

 timber was removed from State land in direct contravention of the constitution 

 and the opinion of the attorney general given to the Forest, Fish, and Game 

 Commissioner. 



It is unnecessary for the present purpose to follow much further 

 in detail the gradual evolution in New York of forest land adminis- 

 tration as a successful State activity. There were still many vicis- 

 situdes to be gone through before the administrative organization 

 emerged as an agency of State government accorded, and deserving 

 of, the full support and confidence of the people. Progress was made 

 more difficult for a time by the fusion which combined into one 

 department the forest commission and the fish and game commission. 

 Until within relatively recent years State fish and game departments 

 have practically everywhere, by common acceptance, been integrated 

 with the State political machines. Efficient management of great 

 public forest properties calls for their specialized administration by 

 men of suitable technical training and professional spirit and back- 

 ground. The discharge with competence, impartiality, and sole 

 allegiance to the public welfare of functions of trusteeship is involved. 

 To assure a proper continuity and stability of management, as well 

 as to have throughout the organization good discipline and diligence, 

 the selection, promotion, and retention of men must be governed by 

 their ability and performance within the organization, not by outside 

 considerations or influence. Political machines and business machines 

 do not admit of successful combination^ They should run separately. 

 The story of State forest administration in New York during the 

 20-year period which began with the adoption of the constitutional 

 amendment was epitomized by the author of A History of the 

 Adirondacks, Alfred L. Donaldson, in the following terms: 



These were lean years for the forests. They were years of almost unceasing, 

 though unsuccessful, attacks upon the new amendment. They were years of 

 much lax administration, resulting in enormous lumber thefts and much ques- 

 tionable surrendering of the State's title to its lands; they were, worst of all, years 

 of the most extensive and destructive forest fires. The lesson of all these losses 

 was driven home, however, and the dawn of new era began. 



The same author painted this dawning in a passage which, some- 

 what abbreviated, records the narrative thus: 



The sensation of the year [1914] in forest circles was sprung in December, when 

 Governor Glynn appointed Patrick McCabe, of Albany, * * * as one of the 

 three conservation commissioners. * * * Men high up in the councils of 

 the Democratic Party protested against the appointment, but in vain. * * * 

 The New York World said in part: 



"McCabe is the boss of Albany. He has been one of Murphy's stanchest 

 supporters since the latter assumed the leadership of Tammany Hall. * 

 He is the most practical of practical politicians, a spoilsman and reactionary of the 

 most pronounced type, ready to stand for anything and everything that Murphy 

 decrees." 



This indefensible appointment became a direct influence in bringing about 

 changes in the conservation law that legislated Mr. McCabe out of office the 

 following year. 



******* 



In his inaugural message [of January 1915] Governor Whitman urged certain 

 changes in the conservation law, the most important of which were summed up 

 as follows : 



First. A single-headed commission. 



