The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-08


advises violent instead OF gradual, &C,
ton. or who advocates lli-cohsldered
and sweeping measures OF reform ,Ss-
psoially IL they are tainted Win VIM IN
rights OF the minority Is particularly
blameworthy. The several Legislatures
are responsible for the fact that our
laws are often prepared with slovenly
haste and lack OF consideration. More
over. they are often prepared, anu sun
more frequently amended during pass
age at the suggestion OF the very par
ties against whom they are Afterwards
enforced Z our great clusters or cor
pprations. huge trusts and tabulousIy
Wealthy tnuitimillionaires. employ the
very best lawyers they can obtain 10
pick flaws In these statutes after tneir
passage: but they also employ ciass
% secret agents who seek under .ne
advice OF experts. To render hostle
LEGISLATION lnnocuous by making IL un-
constitutional. often through the IN
sertiOn OF what appear on their race
10 bc drastic and sweeping provisions
against the interests OF the parties IN
spring them. while the demagogues,
the corrupt creatures VINO introduce
Matchmaking schemes to strike cor
porations. and all who demand ex-
IRENE and undesirably radical. meas
ures show themselves TO be the worst
enemies of the very public whose lo9a-
\ very striking illustration OF me
consequences Of carelessness IN the
preparation % "A statute was the en-
cases arising under that law. four OUT
OF six courts OF first instance heid IL
unconstitutional, SIX out OF nine JUS.
tees OF the supreme court held mat
it's subject matter was within the pro-
vince OF congressional action, ana Tour.
OF the nine justices held IL valid. IL
was. however, adjudSed uneonslitut'Ssm
al by a bare majority Of the court-hve
To four. IL was surely very sloNenly
piece OF work 10 frame the legislation
II. such shape as 10 leave the question
open at all.
save the Forests.
IL there is any one duty which more
than another We owe IL 10 our children
and our children's children 10 perform
at once. II Is 10 save the forests OF a srs
and most Important element IN the con.
strvTtf0n OF IRE natural resources OF
tho country There are. or course. Two
kind which can only be used as part
OF process OF exhaustion; this Is true
OF mines. natural oil and gas wells,
and the like. The other. and. OF course
ultimately by far the most important,
includes the resources which can pe
improved In the process or wise US
come under this head. ANY really CIV
iiiZed nation Will so use all OF thesc
three great national assets that the
nation will have their benefit In the
future- There are small sections OF
our own country Ina the east and IN
the west. In the Adirondacks, the White
mountains. and the Appalaehians. anu
In the Rocky mountains, where we can
already see for ourselves the damage
ir the shape Of permanent injury TO
the soil and the river systems which
co nos from reckless detorestation. IL
matters not whether this deforestation
is due TO the actual reckless cutting or
timher. 20 the fires that inevitably 'fol-
low such reckless cutting or timber; or
TO reckless and uncontrolled grazing,
esp ecially by the great migratory bands
Of sheep. the unchecked wandering OF
which over the country means destruc-
tion to forest and disaster TO the small
home makers. the settlers OF limited
means
Shortsighted persons. or persons
blinded 10 the future by desire to mako
money in every way out OF the present.
sometimes speak as II no great dam
age would be done by the reckless de-
struction OF our forests. II is difficult
To- have patience with the arguments
OF these persons. We have already
crossed the verge OF timber famine
In this country and no measures that
we now take can. ut least for many
years. undo the mischief that has al
ready been done. But we can prevent
further mischief being done: and II
hensible to let any consideration OF
temporary convenience or temporary
cost interfere with such action. espe-
cially regard the national forests
, which the nation can now, at this very
moment. control
Inland Waterways. n
Action should be begun forthwith.
during the present session or the con-
gress. for the Improvement or our IN
| land INSTRUMENTATION which VIII re-
| suit I'm giving US not only navigabie
but navigated rivers. We have spent
hundreds OF millions OF dollars upon
nearly all of them is steadily declining.
This condition Is the direct result of
the absence OF any comprehensive and
far-seeing plan of waterway improve
thus to expend the revenues OF the
government without return. III Is poor
business TO spend money for Inland
navigation unless we get IL.
Inquiry into the condition OF the
Mississippi and Its principal TRIBUTARIES
reveals very many Instances OF the
which have hitherto obtained for the
so-cslied Improvement" OF navigation.
striking instance Is supplied by the
Improvement" NJ the Ohio which. be-
gun In 1924, was continued under
single plan for half century. In 1875
/ a new plan was adopted and followed
a different plan was adopted and has
since been pursued at rate which
only promises naviRable river In
from twenty to one hupdred years
longer.
Such shortsighted. vaciliating, and
futile methods are accompanied by de-
creasing water borne commerce and
Increasing traffic congestion on land.
by increasing foods, and by the waste
| % public money The remedy lies in
at andoning the methods which have SO
sigraliy failed and adopting new ones
| in keeping with the needs and demands
OF our people.
In a report on a measure introduced
at the flrst session of the present con-
| gress, the secretary OF war said The
| chief defect In the methods hitherto
pursued lies In the absence OF execu-
| tive authority for originating compre-
tensive plans covering the country or
natural divisions thereof" In this
| opinion. I heartily concur.
! l urge that all our national park:
adjacent to national forests be placed
! forest service OF the agricultural de-
partment, instead of leaving them as
they now are. under the Interior de-
partment and policed by the army.
intendents with adequate corps of hrst
class civilian scouts. or rangers. and
| further, place the road construction
| under the superintendent instead OF
| leaving II with the war department.
Such q change in park management
difficulties of administration which now
| arise from having the responsibility OF
crre and protection divided between
different departments The need for
Y.iiowstone park. This, like. the Yose-
should be kept as national play
ground. In both oil wild things should
| be protected. and the scenery kept
an, happy TO say that have been
able TO set aside In various parts Of
| the country small. we'll chosen tracts
| OF ground TO. serve as sanctuaries and
nurseries Cor wild creatures.
| had occasion In my message OF May
4, 1906, 20 urge the passage of some
lau, nuttinQ alcohol used In the arts