The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-05-13
THE SENATE AND FOREST RESERVES
Amendment Demanding That the Or
der BE Set Aside.

Washington, May 7.-When the consid-
Grafton of the sundry civil bill was re-
sumed by the senate yesterday, the pend
ing question was on Senator Pettigrew's
amendment suspending the order of Presi-
dent Cleveland creating extensive forestry
reserves. The presidents order was Sc
yerely criticised by senators from the
states affected, including Pettigrew, Will
son and Carter Senator Wilson char
acterized the Cleveland proclamation as
a "dastardly blunder," 5000 600 acres nav
ing been taken out of his state, so that
no man could cut a stick Of timber with
out being denounced as a thief. The peo-
ple affected by these orders were not TO
be restrained, he said, by scientific
gentleman from Harvard college, They
were going to have the timber Whlch
they needed, law or no law, and what
are you going to do about it?" he asked.
Senator Turner said that for three
months appeals have been made to the
executive authority, but as yet no rellet
has come. The senators from the states
affected were not to be made to KICK
their shins" in the corridors of the exc
cutiye branch of the government. 1t was
the duty of the executive branch to cor
rect this wrong. Senator Clark said the
west was deeply concerned in the preser-
walton of the forests and streams, Dut
what they protested against was the abb
solute ignorance inspiring this order ior
the privation of forests. Clevelands or
der. he said, had struck the greatest blow
to forest reservations that it had ever
received 1t had arrayed the people OF
the west against the entire policy of forest
reserves. Yielding to the president $
threat. the provision had been abandon
ed.
"And a president that would make sucf
a threat" exclaimed Senator Pettigrew
| 0is n disgrace to civilization and dis
grace to the republic"
The presiding officer sounded the gave
sharply.
Senator Allison moved to strike from
the bill the provision suspendlng TN
presidents order of February Y. The mo
| tion was defeated, IA to 81.
| ON the announcement of the vote, Sen
| ator Allison withdrew all objections, AM
remarked that it has become evident ina
a majority of the senate was in favor o
this legislation, and was not even willin
IN trust the president and secretary o
the interior to revoke the order. The pre-
siding officer submitted to the senat
senator Germans point of order agains
the entire amendment. and 1t was mel
to be in order. % to %. This left tn
amendment in order, and it was agree
to without division.
The amendment provides that to re
move any doubt which may exist pertain
ing to the authority of the Ipresider
thereto. the president of the Unite
States is hereby authorized and empoV
cred to revoke, modify or suspend an
and all such executive orders and procli
nations designating forest reserves
any part thereof from time to time, z
he shall deem best to public interest.
provided, that the executive ordel
and proclamations dated February Y, lSs
setting apart and reserving certain ian'
in wyoming, Utah, Montana, Washing
ton Idaho and South Dakota as fore
reserves be and they are hereby suspen
, ed. and the lands embraced therein
! stored to the public domain. the same
IL the said orders and proclmations hi
/, not been issued.
provided further. that lands embrace
2 in such reservations not otherwise di
posed of SHALL when the survey OF su'
3 reservations are completed. be subject
TO such order as the president may ma
in reference to the same so as not
disturb the right of any actual settl
a or claimant now residing upon any
: the lands embraced In such reserv
y tions."
: The amendment further appropriat
e $3.50 900 for surveying these forest reserv
4 and establishing a general plan of admi
[ istering such reserves, protection again
fire sale of dead timber, etc.