February 1923 (Peirce and 
Stahl 1964). 
On January 22, 1923, Senator 
Charles L. McNary (OR) 
introduced and received 
approval of a Senate 
resolution authorizing a 
Select Senate Committee on 
Reforestation. The charges 
to the committee were broad, 
including authority to hold 
hearings throughout the 
United States, and it was 
directed to report not later 
than April 4, 1924. The 
committee held 24 hearings 
in 16 States and the District 
of Columbia. They provided 
an opportunity for all 
interested persons to be 
heard. Chief Forester Greeley 
was present at most hearings, 
and E.T. Allen represented 
the viewpoints of private 
timberland owners. The final 
report was published January 
10, 1924. Prior to release of 
the report, Senator McNary 
had introduced S.1182 in 
December 1923, which 
incorporated the 
recommendations of the 
committee (Peirce and Stahl 
1964). 
The House had held hearings 
on the Clarke bill, and in 
committee several 
amendments were made. It 
passed the House by a vote 
of 193 to 32. When the 
McNary bill came before the 
Senate, it was suggested 
that the Senate consider the 
nearly identical Clarke bill 
that had been passed by the 
House. Though there were 
some differences, which he 
pointed out, Senator McNary 
agreed. The Clarke bill 
passed by a voice vote and 
was signed by President 
Coolidge on June 7, 1924. It 
became known as the 
Clarke-McNary Act (USDA 
Forest Service 1983, Peirce 
and Stahl 1964). 
Clarke-McNary—A 
Milestone 
Clarke-McNary was the third 
major milestone in the 
progress of American forestry 
(the act of March 3, 1891, 
creating the forest reserves, 
and the Weeks law were the 
first two). The provisions of 
the new law opened the way 
for greater cooperation with 
private landowners. 
The original act (1) authorized 
the Secretary of Agriculture 
to cooperate with States in 
devising and recommending 
fire protection systems for 
non-Federal lands; (2) 
31 
