New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-08
THE FOREST INVESTIGATION.
TWO REPORTS ALREADY DRAFTED BY THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE.
THE FOREST COMM ssIoN's WORK IN THE MAIN
COMMENDED IN ONE REPORT AND DE-


COMMENDED IN ONE REPORT AND DE-
NouNcBD IN THE OTHER.
,Br TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE!
Albany. April 1.-TWO extremely Important IN
fuences were at work the MIND OF SENATOR iini
when he had Speaker sheehan make up the Assembly,
Committee Public Lands and Forestry ana give IL
the task of investigating the Forest commission
The allmportant influence at work was a desire on
the part Of Senator Hill to convict the members OF
this Commission Of crimes, OF illegates Doruerhg
on crimes, which might result in the passage OF
bill by the present Legislature putting the Commits
sion out OF Office This would then give Hu inc
power to appoint Commission which he could con-
troll That would be great acquisition to his
political machine and which he has for several
years been seeking to obtain. The other reason that
caused him, through the Assembly Committee TO begin
this attack the Commission desire to soften
the heart Of Smith NJ Weed whose feelings toward the
SenatorGovernor have not been at all pleasant since
he was euchred out of the election to the United
States Senate which Hill promised TO him last fall.
In response TO the orders and wishes OF Senator Hill,
the committee has been holding sessions of nvestiga-
ton here in Albany, and every effort has been made
TO convict the Commissioners OF doing wrongs that
ought to- cause their dismissal. The outcome Of this
investigation is that the committee is divided upon the
nature Of the report that should be brought. The
majority of the committee are opposed to the sort OF
a report that Hill wants them to bring in.
Two reports have been drawn up, and a third may
follow The report which the chairman Of the COM
mttee has considered to be the most advisable TO
present to the Assembly Is agreed to also by Connolly
Of NewYork; Davfe OF Delaware, and Lane, of Jefer
son County. This report has been printed, and is
ready for presentation to the Assembly. 1t first
rehearses the history OF the Forest Commission and
gives the laws under which IL operates 1t praises
the outline Of the proposed Adirondack Park. Then
the work Of the Commission IN preserving the forests
from destruction by forest fires is commended. With
the subject OF respass and timber stealing the lands
the report deals at considerable length. This. it says
is the most difficult part Of the Commissions work
The report quotes from the testimony Of several wit
that the general feeling Of people around there
(the forests that 1t harm whatever to take
timber from the State lands.'
III the testimony wherein the enemies Of Com
missioner Basselin attempted to show that he made
deal in the interest Of lumber company of which
he is member, the report says This contract has
been the basis for very severe criticism upon Com
missioner Basselin, but all the facts that have been
eclted by the testimony before your committee on TINS
subject, and the reasons and explanations given by
each Of the Commissioners for voting to reverse their
former policy with regard to the Hadey act and f0r
resembling the Hurd resolution, so to recommend
TO the Controller the granting OF the application OF
the action of Commissioner Bassen in the matter OF
| the proposed exchange may have been induced by
%a and 9Rst with desire
mends that the Adirondack preserves be placed In
the hands Of one VEL paid and ecent o Stae a6
under his control shall be undivided. .
Three Of the members of the committee desire to
show their loyalty TO senator Hill by introducing
report scoring the members Of the Commission in
the fercest manner. They are Assemblymcn Cameron,
expected to do Hill dictates. Dempsey is from
the attack which they want to make on the Forest
Commission other than the wishes Of Senator Hill.