Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-10-09

reserves Wuei ibi bHit Ht tHtli iht
duty toward the forest service, bu'
, they must demand of forest officials
the highest degree Of integrity ant
fairness.
Fewer forest rangers, II they are In
ltclllgent. energetic. honest and fair
} minded, with the hearty co-operati0n
N the stockmen and settlers, will do
more efficient work than twice their
number. more carelessly selected and
poorly paid. The stoekmen and tneii
employees must be treated right by
forest officials. to secure the neces-
safy cooperation and efficient work
Forest service must demand Of the
stockmen who hold these permits 10
Craze, the highest standard Of integ-
rity. There must be no trifiing The
man who. to gain an advantage, VIII
state "A wilful falsehood. or commit
deliberate perjury. Is not a desirable
h~Ome-builder or occupant Of forest re-
serves. Such q man can not be relied
upon, and should be excluded from
grazing privileges. If we are to de-
pend upon the settlers and stOckmen
using the forest reserves To protect
| them from the one arch destroyer,
we must have honest. reliable men
only. Liars. %perJurers and dishonest
men can not be depended upon to
protect the forest heritage Of future
generations.
have the greatest respect for the
integrity OF the forester. clifford Pin
chot. and the highest admiration for
the tirelcss effort and self-sacrifice he
Is making for this great work Of our
country. While this IS true we must
not be blind 10 the mistakes made by I
the forester or forestry service. We
must not expect perfection In the rules
and regulations that come from the
forester's office. But we have q right
10 make a patient. persistent demand
for even-handed Justice. the correction
% all errors and for open, rational.
fair methods Of investigation and de-
sision Of all questions affecting the
rights and Interests Of the people, The
rights OF settlers and stockmen must
not be decided, in any degree. upon
secret reports. No forest official has
O right to make a report on a contest
question, which Is used or Is in
TO be used to influence the de-
cision Of that case. which report Is not
open TO the inspection and criticism Of
any party Interested Ia the contest.
rhe methods OF the trial Of contested
eases and the fidelity to duty of the
forest service officials should APP
proach as closely as possible the prin-
siples and methods OF our courts OF
This they ave not done in
he past.
ne FOREST service rs now duflllliS-
cred Is an autocracy. and the forest
supervisor Is practically an aGtocrat.
rhe forest service makes It's rules
md regulations and changes them as
lften as IL likes, without notice To the
occupant II regulates, limits
lr excludes the resident and stock
.rOwer, from the use OF his ranch f,
water or recognized range. 1t decides .
lis rights and enforces it's DEGREES. :
"a Al. .ttf... I.a a.. r..g.f a.. Fl.l 7
ourts. and no principles or prece- :
ents limit the VIII Of the forest SER
ice Judge who passes on The ease. =,
'hese are dangerous powers TO place !
the hands of men Of limited expert :
and knowledge of the subject y
the country and the business !,
1volved in their decisions. :
II such powers must be given to r
crest service officials, justice de- \
hat such officials be selected 4
18th the greatest care. and that some Il
be placed Ia their hands. and I,
'ithin the reach of the citizens whose (,
Ights are to be thus determined.
hereby the parties knowing the facts
an be placed mon the witness stand
nd compelled 10 tell what they know
nder oath. An act of congress grant
" such authority to the proper off
Pr Is necessary for the protection or
~ pui DOSES OF ioitSiIA, TOT the pro- ~
'ction OF the rights Of the people and O.
le good name and integrity Of for Is
'try service. No court IN the land j.
ould listen Tor a moment 10 such al q
'ged evidence as these forest service q
must depend upon for their ~
tets. "
A wrongdoer within the ranks OF y
le navy or military service ~ tried I,
fore j court-martial, which has the M
lWcr TO summon and examine Wit -
'sses as in other courts, but with this ~
my Of the forest service dealing di- IN
city with the rights Of the people. be
such poWer h given. How is the for ~
q service io rid itself % unscrupu- NJ
as dangerous employees he
We an know. II q difference arises in
tween two %nclghhors, other neigh On
not Interested, will not give m,
they know against either party IA
Hess they are almost forced TO do re
y and then ns a rule they give only IN
~ they ieel are necessary no
lawyer knows that 40 Is utterly
lpossihic 90 get the facts of any ease
a court Without the power Go
mmon n examine witnesses under
EN-partc affidayits and reports
tl not answer the ends Of justice.
Congress has given to the forest
rNice the power To pass upon your an
tNtH ana mime. we want congress ~
~ to grant to the forest service the w
thority 10 appoint proper Officers. az
fore whom the dispositions Of witt ~
sscs can be taken under oath aud in y =
f. presence Of the parties Interested. We
that the Facts may be made "a part tP
the records in each ease. such "a '
would be e safeguard 90 every
nest forest service official. and i'
ary user Of forest reserve products Z.
.o wants the whole truth 20 10 ~
own. and c~Ncn-handcd Justice Co all .
such a Law would be "a terror 90 -,
.fN wrongdner. whether private cite "a
n or public official who wants to NJ,
'p any material facts from the vo
lwledge ~ the forest service. he
Forest service has not vet demon roi
lted its ahulty TO- handle the graz III,
problem With that justice which wh
nmands the approval 90 The fair atf
1dcd stoCkmen of che west. Com In,
lnts among users " forest ranges "in
usually suppressed hy the feeling tht
q HH d. m.HH... MT o.. AHHA..aMma HL.