The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-05-13
LUMBER FAMINE IMPOSSIBLE.
SENATOR HEPBURN SAYS WE
HAVE PLENTY OF TINfBER.

Ascuics Nnart OF Forestry Rureau
showing How Long Wood Supply
VIII Last-ScnatOr SmOot Defends
Prediction Of the Bureau.
washington. May 5.-On resuming
consideration Of the agricultural an.
preparation bill in the senate today
Mr.. Warner stated that having re-
ceived communication from the
secretary Of agriculture saying that
ne would be able to take care of q
pure food law without an additional
appropriation, he would not offer the
amendments for that purpose, which
ne intended. On a point of order nv
senator Clark the amendment an.
thorizing the secretary of agriculture
70 INFORM owners Of the wood lands
as to their proper care was stricken
from the bill.
suggesting an amendment except
Ing Idaho from the States from which
the secretary of agriculture may give
permits for the expectation Of tim
Der from forests reserves Senator
Hepburn ridiculed a chart from the
Forestry department, which was
swung on the wall Of the senate cham
Der marked with statements as 70
the number Of years the forests in
various parts of the country would
iast' The forestry division, he said
was launching into the realm of pro.
phecy In way that required greater
wisdom than, that possessed by the
sages of old, when it declared that a
section would be shorn of it's forests
In 20, 80 or 40 years. They forget
he said. that timber grows, and he
declared that "the supply of timber
Is as great today as ever in the worlds
history" There was, he said, no
danger of timber famine.
II can prove" retorted Senator
smoot, mot by prophecy, but by alb
solute figures. that the timber of this
country is being destroyed RAPIDLY.
and there is not anything like the
amount Of timber in this country that
there was twenty or even ten years
ago"
Mr.. Hepburn said he objected to
the government setting up q lumber
yard and selling timber in anv
State.
Reading from document concern
Ing the expenses Of the forest re-
serves he criticised the statement OF
expenses as indefinite.
Senator Smoot said II the senator
would mention an item Of expense he
would give him, the details.
= Senator Clark. Sf wyoming, declar.
ed that congress has sent forth that
information and the department had
not sent It He wanted to know how
the senator from Utah had become
the mouthpiece Of the department
and Mr.. Hepburn added that II was
singular that the senator from Utah
had undertaken to answer Questions
for the department that congress
fruitlessly asked the department to
give.
Mr.. Hepburn read the names of
officers of the American Forestry As
sociation. declaring that Mr.. Wager
houser. the second vice president.
cPwnsd or claimed more timber un.
lawfully obtained than any other
man on EARTH"
Mr.. Hepburn declared that 1t was
dangerous about this mans policy
or that man't policy"
THE policy Of the country" he
added. Is the policy of the people as
found in the written law of the land.
When 1t is found anywhere else it is
fictitious. The people put their poll
cies In the statute books. Yet we
hear 1t talked that the administra-
tons policy is here to stay. We will
see whether 1t is here to stay or not"
The senate adjourned with the ag
ricultural bill still incomplete and
the forest question undisposed of.