Expansion of the National Park Service in the 1930s:
Administrative History
Chapter Five: New Initiatives in the Fields of
History, Historic Preservation and Historical Park Development and Interpretation
|
|
H. Legislative History of Historic Sites Act and
National Park Trust Fund Board Act
The Historic Sites Act represented a popular idea at a
time of economic crisis when the nation needed a sense of its heritage.
The proposed bill, drafted by Poole and Schneider, and its companion
bill to create a national park trust fund board, quickly found
influential Congressional sponsors. After the bills received a favorable
report from the Bureau of the Budget, Senator Harry F. Byrd of Virginia
introduced them in the Senate on February 28, 1935. [45]
The bills, which were first referred to the Committee on the Library but later
transferred to the Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, were entitled
(S. 2073) "An Act to provide for the preservation of historical American
sites, buildings, objects, and antiquities of national significance" and
(S. 2074) "An Act to create a National Park Trust Fund Board." On March
13 Representative Maury Maverick of Texas introduced the bills (H.R.
6670--Historic Sites Act; H.R. 6734--National Park Trust Fund Board Act)
in the House where they were referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
While neither legislator had taken part in drafting the bills, they were
both interested in historic preservation. Byrd, as a former governor of
Virginia, could not ignore the importance of Colonial Williamsburg and
the George Washington Birthplace and Colonial national monuments.
Maverick, a first-term Congressman, had been a long-time supporter of
the San Antonio Conservation Society and more recently had
turned his attention to an effort to have the San Jose Mission made a
unit of the National Park System. [46]
When the bills were taken up for consideration by the
two Congressional committees, the committee chairmen requested further
information and clarification from Secretary Ickes. In response to these
requests Ickes submitted identical letters to Rene L. DeRouen of
Louisiana, chairman of the House Committee on Public Lands, and
Robert F. Wagner of New York, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public
Lands and Surveys, on March 26 and 30 respectively. The legislation, wrote
Ickes,
provides that the Secretary of the Interior shall be
charged with the duty of effectuating the national policy expressed in
the bill. In connection with this, it is important initially that
graphic records and other data of historic and archaeologic sites,
buildings, and objects should be obtained and a comprehensive study made
for the purpose of a proper classification; for example, of those
clothed with national significance. The bill also contains provisions to
accomplish this, and to authorize the establishment of a reference
library and the making of necessary researches in connection with
particular sites and properties.
The bill would provide the necessary authority for
acquiring, restoring, preserving, and operating historic sites and
properties.
The great majority of historic houses, over 400 in
number, now operated for the benefit of the public in this country are
owned and maintained by States, patriotic associations, and individuals.
It is believed that much can be accomplished by mutual cooperation
between all agencies interested in this subject and the bill would
authorize such cooperation upon the part of the Federal Government; in
addition, it provides that cooperative agreements with States and others,
may be made for the preservation and operation of historic sites and
properties.
In order that historic properties may be properly and
accurately interpreted to the public, the bill provides that an
educational program and service shall be developed.
In view of the highly technical problems involved in
the reconstruction and restoration of many historic properties, the bill
contains provisions for obtaining the necessary technical and
professional assistance which might otherwise be difficult to obtain.
The bill to create a National Park Trust Fund Board,
and for other purposes (H.R. 6734), is a companion bill to H.R. 6670.
This bill is substantially identical with the act which created the
Library of Congress Trust Fund Board, which I am informed has proved to
be most valuable in promoting the Library and its work. I believe such
an agency will prove to be of equal value to the Park Service.
[47]
The House Committee on Public Lands held hearings on
H.R. 6670 and H.R. 6734 on April 1, 2, and 5. The first person to speak
was Secretary Ickes, who explained that the House committee was about to
consider two bills, one to create a National Park Service Trust Fund
Board that could expend private donations given to the Park Service, and
the other the Historic Sites Act itself. Ickes stated that the essential
purpose of the bill was
to lay a broad legal foundation for a national program
of preservation and rehabilitation of historic sites and to enable the
Secretary of the Interior to carry on in a planned, rational and
vigorous manner, an important function which, because of lack of legal
authorization, he has hitherto had to exercise in a rather weak and
haphazard fashion.
Moreover, he needed the act to provide him with
proper professional historical advice and services since Congress had
responded so enthusiastically to the cause of history:
In the past few years the American people have
displayed a sharply increased awareness of its historic past. This
growing interest and pride in both local and national history is a
healthy and encouraging phenomenon which is reflected in the
ever-increasing number of bills being introduced into both Houses of
Congress, providing for the marking, preservation, or restoration of
historic sites or structures throughout the country. More than
sixty such bills have been introduced during the present
session. [48]
Chatelain also had the opportunity to testify at the
hearings. After describing the degree to which the nation had no
coordinated plan for protecting its historic sites, he noted that local
agencies had been unable to handle the job. Hence he strongly supported
the idea of cooperation in saving the nation's historical heritage:
As a country, we need to undertake a far-reaching
planning program to save our historic sites. We need to plan together,
and if this bill has one great object it seems to me that it is in
establishing some form of cooperation between the Nation on the one
hand, and the various component parts of the Nation--the States,
counties, and cities--on the other hand, in a scheme or effort toward
historic planning and historic conservation. [49]
Less than one week after the hearings were completed,
President Roosevelt indicated his wholehearted support for the Historic
Sites Act in letters sent to Chairmen DeRouen and Wagner on April 10,
1935. The president noted:
The preservation of historic sites for the public
benefit, together with their proper interpretation, tends to enhance the
respect and love of the citizen for the institutions of his country, as
well as strengthen his resolution to defend unselfishly the hallowed
traditions and high ideals of America.
At the present time when so many priceless historical
buildings, sites and remains are in grave danger of destruction through
the natural progress of modern industrial conditions, the necessity for
this legislation becomes apparent.
In this connection I feel that the Department of the
Interior, through the National Park Service, to the jurisdiction of
which I assigned this general activity by Executive orders of June 10
and July 28, 1933, should be authorized to carry forward this increased
program and to acquire such property as it is decided is necessary to
the furtherance of these ends. The general machinery for this work can
be developed by the National Park Service with little additional
expense. [50]
The House committee reported both bills on May 9,
recommending passage subject to several amendments. [51]
On June 7 the Senate considered both bills in executive session and reported
favorably on both with amendments. [52]
Three days later S. 2073 and S. 2074 passed the
Senate in amended form, and on June 14 both bills were
referred to the House Committee on Public Lands. [53]
On June 18 the House committee reported favorably on the amended Senate versions
subject to further revision and recommended their passage in lieu of
H.R. 6670 and H.R. 6734. [54] The National Park
Trust Fund bill (S. 2074) became law on July 10, but passage of the Historic
Sites bill (S. 2073) was held up because of the opposition of Representative
Bertrand Snell of New York. [55] Angered because Secretary
Ickes had earlier rescinded an allocation for a bridge in Ogdensburg, New York, Snell
continued his tactics until President Roosevelt personally intervened to restore the
bridge appropriation. [56] On August 5 the House amended
and passed S. 2073 in lieu of H.R. 6670. [57]
At this point Senator Byrd requested Secretary Ickes opinion as to
whether he wished the Senate to agree to the House version of the bill
or whether a conference should be called. Ickes replied on August 12:
The legislative history of this bill discloses that it
passed the House with four amendments. The principal change effected by
these amendments would prohibit the acquisition of any property or the
making of cooperative agreements in connection with the preservation of
historical sites, which would obligate the general fund of the Treasury,
until Congress appropriated money for that purpose. As this bill passed
the Senate, it would appear that concessions could not have been granted
in historical sites without complying with the law which requires
competitive bidding. The House Committee on Public Lands, however,
recommended an amendment which would authorize the letting of such
concessions without complying with this requirement of the law, but the
amendment was defeated and a provision, as follows, substituted in its
stead:
"Provided, That such concessions, leases or permits
shall be let at competitive bidding, to the person making the highest
and best bid."
Ickes recommended that the Senate concur in the House
amendments. [58] On August 14 the Senate complied with the Secretary's wishes, and
on August 21 Roosevelt signed the bill into law as Public Law 292 (49
Stat.666 ). [59]
Chapter Five continues with...
Significance of the Historic Sites Act and the
National Park Trust Fund Board Act
|