157 
Notwithstanding this recommendation the Committee on Printing 
of the House of Representatives by refusing to report favorably 
the senate resolution for 25,000 copies did its utmost to withhold 
from the people th^ findings of the Conservation Commission. 
The edition in which the full report, including the experts’ con- 
tributions, was printed, was so limited that it was only with the 
greatest difficulty that a copy can be obtained. The refusal freely 
to distribute this report was one of the overt acts of the opposi- 
tion in the Conservation controversy. 
Subsequent to the conference of the Governors in May, 1908, 
thirty-six of the States and Territories formed Conservation 
Commissions. In December, 1908, a second conference of Gov- 
ernors was called at Washington, at which meeting the findings 
of the National Conservation Commission was first made public. 
This conference adopted resolutions commending that report and 
urged on Congress the importance of taking action along lines 
following the recommendations of the Commission’s report. At 
this meeting, too, was organized the Joint Committee on Con- 
servation, designed to affiliate the several state commissions for 
effective action. 
The next event of importance was the “Tawney amendments” 
to the Sundry Civil Bill, which became law on March 4, 1909. 
This prohibits the expenditure of public funds by or for any 
Commission not specially created by Congress and forbids gov- 
ernment officials from assisting in the work of any commission 
otherwise appointed. This amendment effectually stopped the 
activities of the National Conservation Commission. But it did 
not stop the campaign, for the Joint Committee on Conserva- 
tion, being an unofficial body, has continued the work of the Na- 
tional Conservation Commission by keeping the State Commis- 
sions in touch with one another and in general by acting as a 
clearing house for matters having to do with Conservation. 
In February, 1909, a successful North American Conservation 
conference was held, attended by representatives of Canada, 
Mexico and the United States. The conference likewise united 
in a declaration of principles and made certain definite recom- 
mendations, one of which was that a World Conference of Con- 
servation be called by the President. Mr. Roosevelt sounded the 
other nations and having received favorable replies it is likely 
that such a Congress will be held, probably at the Hague, during 
the autumn of 1910. 
Last summer at Seattle there was formed the National Con- 
servation Congress, a popular organization, designed to meet at 
intervals for the consideration and discussion of Conservation 
problems. This Congress is closely modelled on the National 
Irrigation Congress, of which it is really an outgrowth. It may 
be expected in future to become an agency to be reckoned with. 
In the autumn of 1909 there was organized in New York the 
National Conservation Association, under the presidency of Dr. 
