The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-14
The Forest Reservation.

The Forest Reservation.
| A few days ago Senator Vest introduced
a resolution to provide for a committee
to investigate the cause of the Mississippi
flood. Only a short time previously, if
we are not mistaken, Senator Vest voted
with the majority of the senators to aD-
rogate President Cleveland's order set
| ting aside additional forest reservations
in Wyoming. Utah, Montana. Washing
ton. Idaho and South Dakota. The con-
nection between forests-or rather lack
of forests-and floods is very well under
stood. Senator Vest wants to know what
caused the foods, but he is not willing
that Grover Cleveland should do anything
towards lessening the danger of floods.
President Cleveland's order was made
under direct authority OF law, and was in
line with the government policy begun
under Hayes and continued under Harri-
son. There is not a particle Of politics in
the question OF forest preservation. 1t is
matter of preventing forest denudation
and consequent floods and droughts. The
decay Of many countries of both Asia and
Europe-Southern Spain, Messopotamia,
Palestine and Southern France-are trace
able TO the destruction of their forests.
This fact was recognized by congress it
self, when it gave the President authority
within his discretion to set aside tim
bered lands in the northwest as forest
reservations. He took the advice Of emf
nent members Of the National Academy
of Sciences. and ordered the reservation
Of lands in the states named.
And Immediately there was howl by
persons in congress representing the land
and timber grabbers. A senator of this
class had the effrontery TO declare that
I'VE will go on cutting the timber whether
he Qhe PresidenO forbids IT or not" The
western strikers and the anu-Cleveland
element in the Senate were strong enough
to have inserted into the sundry civil bill
a provision setting aside the reservation
order. And when the bill was passed
another senator said something about the
action of the Senate being parting
shot at the worst enemy the American
people ever had" The purpose of the
majority in the Senate was to cater to
the western senators. and to get in "a
parting shot" at the strong man whom
they could not manipulate.
The House, by decisive vote, has de-
clined to accept the Senate's amendment
revokng the order. Thus we see it once
more demonstrated that the popular
branch of congress has become the con
sentative body, which must be depended
upon to check the wild and headstrong
Senate.
1t is possible that some few local inteA-
ests which it might be desirable 10 con-
serve would be hurt by the operation of
the order. President Cleveland said. be-
fore the expiration of his term, that if
such instances were brought to his at
tention he would be glad to modify the
order to meet them. And President Nc
kinley has the same power. But the in
terests which are making the biggest kick
are those which have no claim in right
or justice upon the forest lands. They
want timber by the millions of feet for
their mines, or for shipment. 1t is told
of some of the corporations which are
crying out against the reservation that
when they received permission to cut a
certain number of millions of feet of tim
Der, they would invariably add % to 80
per cent. to the amount. 1t is to be
hoped that the House will stand stead
fast in defense of the forests, ana the
welfare Of the people residing in the val
leys of the great rivers which have their
headwaters in the northwest