Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-05-17
SENATE PASSES
FORESTRY BILL
ONLY TWO MEMBERS OPPOSED
TO MEASURE.
ALL AMENDMENTS LOST
Wriqnt's Elective Proposition and
Munson's Proposal to Employ Less
Help Voted Down-RaiIroad Rate
Commission Laid OVer-Morrls
County Option Bill Killed.
Madison, May -.

Madison, May -.
The senate yesterday passed the
forestry commission bill, which was
made a special order Some amend
mends to reduce the expense and size
OF the commission were defeated and
the final vote was nearly unanimous,
only Senators Wright and Wolff vot-
ing in the negative. The bill strength
ems the forestry law of two years
ago. adding to the commission, pro-
yiding for an assistant forester and
making more complete AMI adequate
provisions to extinguish and guard
against fires.
Senator Wright offered set Of
amendments providing that the COM
mission shall consist of three instead
of five members and that the presi-
dent shall be elected instead of APP
pointed. These amendments were op-
posed by Senator Bird, the leading adj
vocate of the bill, who said that the
friends of the bill desired to keep it
as free as possible from politics and
that this end was TO be served best
rather than elective. He cited an
example of the effect of politics in
the administration of the state pine
lands telling of one sale of such lands.
At a time when the state land Office
was extensively mixed in politics a
single sale was made for 100000
This land was then cut over and some
70.000,000 feet of pine taken off Then
the same land was sold for S1,500,000
He hoped that the senate would ie-
feat the amendments for they were
vicious to the bill and destructive of
its purposes" He much preferred
that if these amendments we're adopt
ed that the bill would he killed out
right. Senator Bird analyzed the
provisions of the proposes law. show
ing that it was not oveTeXpenslve.
He declared that every lumberman
would readily recognize the fact that
the bill is an economical one. Any
successful lumberman would think it
unwise and wasteful to employ less
help than this bill provides for the
care of 100000 to 100000 acres Of for
estry lands. This measure. explain
ed Senator Bird, originated with the
experts of the national forestry de-
rartment at Washington and hal been
carefully revised and scrntinized by
the state forestry commission and the
/ friends of the Wisconsin forestry r.
/ serves. and he declared that 1t was alb
solutely the best measure that had
ever been framed on this important
subject
No Hurry to Sell.
Senator Hatten briefly spoke in IA
vor of the bill, remarking hat had the
state wears ago refrained from selling
its lanI those properties could now be
sold for 81 100000 more than they
brought when they were listed for
/ sale. They said that therefore there
was no reason for any haste on the
part of the state parting with its
lands, for they We're a good invest
lnent and were increasing in value all
the time; and not only that. but that
+ once sold they could not be replaced
. 10 advantage if they could be replaced
at all.
Munson for Economy.
Senator Munson offered an amend
mant to strike out the provision for
an assistant state forester at 81 500 a
year. He explained that he was in
favor of the general purposes of the
bill but thought as a matter Of
! economy If was not neces sary at the
present time to secure two technical
men. His idea was TO begin with one
and if more were found nee essary
they could be provide for nv d subse
cuert legislature. The amendment
was opposed by Senator Bird. who
argued that all the help provided for
in the bill was necessary If the plans
{ contemplated by the frienis Of the
movement were 10 be at all adequate
d IL carried ont. He said The work
was planned TO extend over large
areas. that it included drainage work
on swamp lands in order TO reclaim
them. and that conservative lumber
ing was also contemplated. He sal
hat the 1900 a year necessary 10 So
care an additional forester would he
returned TO the state many times n
effective and valuable work accom-
3lished. The amendment was lost
and the bill advanced. p TO 2