, 1904-03-10
THAT SPECIAL COMMISSION
Why Was it created--some Very Per-
tineat and Searching Questions Pro-
pounded by the Wyoming Industrial
Journal-A Sensible Forestry Policy.

sion to examine into the operation
of the land laws created? The
journal asks this after we have
had an opportunity of seeing a
majority of the commission aud
giving them our ideas as TO the
value of the existing laws from
the view point of the people inter
ested. 1t would seem that the
commission was created through
some influence brought to bear on
the President rather than at his
own initiative. The President is
in close touch with western peo-
pie: he knows every senator and
representative from the West and
a great many of the leading citi-
zen of the arid States and Terri
torres. Why should he send two
men through the West, occupying
a period of not over three weeks,
anticipating that they could in
that time make themselves famil-
lar with the existing conditions
and desires of the people? With
/ citizens of western States in Con
gress, and Congress in session,
does it not seem strange that the
] NfV.lltIAVtt ntnY - tho AAArt
should deem 1t advisable to send
two eastern men, neither of whom
has ever had any experience in ad-
ministering the land laws or taking
a part in the dew elopment of the
country under their operation, to
make a three weeks journey and
report upon the ACCESSIBILITY of re-
I pealing or amending the statutes
which more than any others pro
vide for the growth and develop
ment of the arid region? Are
these men endowed with such in
tellectual faculties that their iudg-
ment BASED on facts obtained in a
brief s%ojourn among western peo-
pie fits them to report intelligent
y TO the Chief Executive? We
10 not believe it. Mr.. Newell has
assumed the direction of the re-
clamation service knowing himself
unqualified by both training and
experience. He would not hest
tate to accept a place on such a
commission as has just visited our
State. Without knowing the
manner in which the commission
Was named il would seem that il
resulted from the efforts of one
George H. Maxwell, who needs no
Introduction to the people of Wy
oming. Nearly every commercial
and industrial organization of the
East has been approached either
by MIR. Maxwell or by one of his
agents, and a large number of
these, hearing only one side of
the argument, have Endorsed his
repeal theories. 1t is very natural
that these matters would come to
the attention of the President. 1t
is also very natural that Mr.. Max
well would attempt to cur the
appointment of a commission
which would report in his favor.
This would be his second field of
influence, and he has been in
Washington long enough to know
how to secure the appointment of
Messrs. Pinchot and Newell on
any board or commission that is
able to serve him. The three
have had an understanding for
more than four years and it was
uo-surprise to those who have fol-
lowed the campaign closely to find
these gentlemen on the commits.
sion recently appointed by the
President.
What will the commission rec
ommend? 1t makes no difference.
the land laws will not be repealed
at once. neither will they be mod.
fled. The existing laws may be-
made practically imperative by
the withdrawal oflands from entry
and this seems to be the policy of
the Interior Department ut the
present time. Wherever a project
is to be surveyed by the reclama-
tion service, lands are withdrawn
from entry 10y townships, regard
less of the development planned
by private parties or the interest