New-York tribune., 1908-05-27
THE SPEAKER AND THE FORESTS

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The bill for national forests in the White
Mountains and Southern Appalachian Mountains
has passed the Senate. but has met obstruction
in the Agricultural Committee of the House,
which will postpone action until the next session
of Congress. Another years delay in the White
Mountains is serious matter at a time when
cutting Of the forest the steep slopes mas
already been carried 10 extreme limit After
five years the forests on the high slopes
of the White Mountains will have disappeared
After that they will be ready like lie mountains
of France, for reforestation at vast expense. in
order to prevent alternating foods and periods Of
low water.
This is the second time that this bill has passed
the Senate The President has urged the measure
upon Congress in nearly every one of his impor-
tant messages throughout the year. majority Of
the members of the House believed to favor
IT. but the political leaders of the House claim
that they cannot take "hasty action because the
matter is too important" Had they been sincere
about its Importance it must have passed inlme-
diatey. The situation is like that outlined by
Governor Pardee of California at the Presidents
conference last week. Governor Glenn had spoken
of "Vox populi Del and Governor Pardee
added that he had observed in matters OF i'm
portant legislation another voice abroad in the
land, Cannoni. which he inclined to think
neither the voice of God nor the voice of the
people
The situation in the House is this The Com
mittee on Agriculture re-organized by the
Speaker at this session with two important
friends of this measure left off and several new
members from the Middle West. unfamiliar with
it. put The committee found itself divided
half and half, part favorng immediate pas
sage of the bill and the other part desirous of
investigating what could he done for these and
other watersheds not already protected by
tional forests The result is that the committee
has recommended the House the appointment
of another commission. Ave members of the
House and FIVE of the Senate. with an appropria-
tion of $4,000 for expenses, TO Investigate the
situation. At the session of Congress a year ago
$4,000 appropriated for investigation Of
the Southern Appalachian and the White Noun
tains by the Secretary OF Agriculture who has
made a compete and satisfactory report of both
regions. urging prompt action by Congress. Pre-
vious that the forest service In CO opera tton
with the states both ends of the line made a
most careful and thorough study Of all the facts
concerned. including the value Of the several
tracts OF land and the amount of timber upon
them \ commission made up of persons
not familiar with the subject looks like political
trick TO postpone action. The fantcst Indication
of approval the part OF the Speaker. either
In this or the preceding Congress, would have
been quite sufficient To bring this measure
promptly and favorabIy from his committee. The
House Committee Judiciary rendered q decision
that forests can he purchased by government
only in the interest of navigation. whereupon the
bills in the House and Senate were both promptly
redrawn. That in the Senate passed. Why
the in the House?
When the mill owners Of New England find
their power disturbed by protracted low water
let them reflect upon their form of -opular gov
ernment. and when the advancing scarcity of wood
again doubles the price OF houses. furniture ana
tools let the people ask II this is the voice OF
the Speaker. who has ohstructed A wisely
planned for relief, that has been repeatedly in
dorsed by the President. by the lenate. by the
forest service. BY engineers lunbermen. scientiac
associations ana unanimous press
Concord, N Il. May 2s, 1905. FORESTER