The Department of the Interior has submitted to Congress a proposal for legislation that will eliminate numerous administrative problems that have been encountered in the sale of timber from Indian lands, Assistant Secretary Roger Ernst announced today.
Two main types of changes are involved. One would permit a continuation of contract sales of timber from lands owned by individual Indians after the trust or other restriction on alienation is removed, in whole or in part. The other would authorize the Department to enter into timber sale contracts for tracts in multiple ownership with the approval of those owning a majority interest. Present law requires the approval of all owners in such cases, Mr. Ernst said, and this is frequently difficult to obtain.
A number of other less significant changes are also involved in the proposal. The proposal is in the form of an amendment of the Act of June 25, 1910, which governs the sale of timber grown on Indian trust lands.
