Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-02-09
LAWS ARE WANTED
PACIFIC COAST LUMBERMEN PAY
VISIT TO OLYMPIA.
Legislation is Urged Requiring the Railroads
to Furnish Cars. Protection Of Forests
From Fires Demands Prompt and Radical
Action.

Representatives of the Pacific Coast
Lumbermen's Association and the Wash
ington Red Cedar Association met the
members Of the house and senate who
are identified with the lumber industry OF
the state in special meeting last week,
for the purpose of discussing urgent
legislation for the better protection and
advancement of the lumber interests.
Victor III. Beckman, of Seattle, secretary
of the first-named association, and editor
OF the. Pacific Coast Lumber Trade
journal, besides representing his own
association, was present in the interest Of
the Eastern Washington and Northern
Idaho association, and the Seattle Lum.
Der Manufacturers Exchange. Other
prominent members were present.
The principal matters Of interest dis.
cussed were house bill No. 81, relative to
the loading of cars in this state house
bill No. so, providing penalty for de-
struction by fire OF forests. and making
provision for the prevention of forest
fires, and the discussion of proposed bill
making it unlawful for any railroad COM
pany operating as a common carrier to
discriminate in this state for or against
shippers or for or against nonperisIlable
commodities in the distribution OF cars
for the handling of products nonperish-
able. This bill, draft of which was
presented by President Griggs, provides
il penalty Of 500 for each car distributed
pursuant to such discrimination, and fur
Their provides that all penalties collected
under the act should be paid into the
county treasury and placed to the credit
OF the general school fund. The proposed
act provides that the cost of securing a
conviction for such discrimination should
be borne by the company found guilty OF
violating the act. 1t was pointed out by
Mr.. Beckman that the railroad companies
are in the habit OF sacrificing home bu l.
ness for outside competition, their short
age sometimes running into the thou
sands. This, in view OF the fact that the
lumber industry in the state represents
about 10000 cars, becomes a serious
problem at times. The passage of the
proposed bill will repder car shortage I'M
der ordinary conditions an impossibility.
Representative Neness' bill, providing
for the protection Of forests, came in for
conciInr, lilo ,li-ct,cciop and tJ,a o,;,;o,,
was expressed by Representative Collins
that it would iail OF passage in the house
unless subjected to considerable amend
ment before being submitted for final
passage. The principal objections to this
measure emanated from the agricultural
sections, the farmers declaring that it
works a hardship on them, and the road
supervisors having already expressed
strong objections to those proviso in it
affecting them. 1t is also urged against
the bill that it favors the corporations at
the expense OF the road supervisors and
others in that it makes it incumbent on
the employees OF the county to do certain
things, while it distinctly states that The
other element "may do" the same things,
leaving it to their own discretion whether
they do so or not. Representative
Neness stated that the county press OF
his constituency strongly intimates that
he has committed an objectionable sin
in fathering the measure, and he favors
It's amendment. The bill was also de.
clared ineffective in that it did not define
intelligently the means to be observe d
by the railroad companies and logee
and others operating locomotives and en-
gines through timber lands for the Pre- =
lection of the timber against fire fir, m
sparks from the engines. BY vote, the
joint committee agreed to insert the
words "shall provide suitable and efIec.
tive spark resister," instead of the present
words, which might be construed as pro-
viding for the adoption of one speci,
spark resister to be used by the various
companies operating in the woods.
The representatives Of the lumber in
terests in the state have agreed to use
their combined influence in furthering
legislation looking to the advancement of
trade and the protection OF forests. With
this end in view a batch OF bills are now
being drafted.