Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-05
ATTACKS PRESIDEN T
HEPBURN PRECIPITATES A LIVE
LY DEBATE OVER TIMBER.

BOISE, Idaho. September b.-The So
called policy Of the administration in
setting aside large areas in the west for
forest reserves was the subject which pre-
cipitated an acrimonious and at times
sensational debate at last nights session of
the irrigation congress, in which Senator
Hepburn of Idaho took leading part.
forestry, stated that the policy of President
Roosevelt was Ito give every part Of the
public land their very best use." These re-
serves to a certain extent control the stock
business of the west, he said. for the chief
summer range is in the reserves The stock
men could not be kept of entirely at the
demand of the irrigationists. Neither could
the service let them have free run of the
reserves.
Attacks the Administration.
The speaker said that some reserves were
practically without trees and one in Kan
sas was without a single tree-facts which
had been the subject Of much criticism-but
1t was the purpose to put trees there. Sen
ator Hepburn made bitter attack on the
administrations foresty policy. The people
were told what was the policy Of the admin
istration. he said. but the administration
had no right to have any policy except as
stated in the statutes. The administration
told the people what we will give you"
No one. he maintained, authorized the ad-
minstration to give the people anything.
The people were sovereign. POLICY" de-
clared the Idaho senator. belongs to mon
archs and kingdoms and not to republics"
Forestry" he said, has been fostered as
policy to uphold the leisurely, lazy dig
nifty of monarchs."
Senator Hepburn declared that the Cassia
reserve in Idaho was created at the behest
of speculating cattlemen.
Representative Reeder Of Kansas inter-
posed and said that the President of the
United States set the reserve aside, and he
probably did so from pure purpose. SEN
ator Hepburn resented the interruption,
whereupon Mr.. Reeder expressed his belief
that the Idaho senator was impugning the
Presidents motives.
please keep your ideas to yourself while
1 have the platform" retorted Mr.. Hey
burn. THE President of the United States
needs no defense from me at your hands,"
Did Not Question Motives.
Senator Hepburn said he did not question
the Presidents motives, but the President
had been misled by bad and not disinterest-
ed advisers.
When Senator Hepburn asserted with
much vehemence that Mr.. Pinchot's theory
about forests subscribing moisture was all
nonsense, there were cries of mo. MOI" and
in all parts of the house there was kissing.
Senator Hepburn shouted his defiance at
the audience. Geese! Geese! Hiss! he
said. Don't try that with me. I'm too old
to be scared by that process. / will have
a hearing"
When Chairman Carter had restored or
der Mr.. Hepburn attacked the National
Forestry Association. One Of its vice pres
idents, he said, was 'Weyerhauser, who
owns more timber land than any man in
the world-more timber than was originally
stolen by any man in the world"
There was loud calls for Senator Dubois
Of Idaho. Senator Dubois said it did not
seem proper that he should discuss this mat
ter before the irrigation congress. He
would, he said, answer his colleague on the
stump In the campaign now in progress in
Idaho. -