The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-05-30
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.

of the debate:
Mr.. Hepburn Mr. President, this whole question
brings up for consideration what is known as the tor
estry policy of the government On the wall before
the senate is chart of prophecy that would con
lure up the spirits of the prophets of old and which
calls forth degree of wisdom in the line OF proPn
ecy that of them ever possessed 1t is the Dold
est piece of prophecy ever presented to any people.
Upon the face of that map divided by varying colorS
is written "Will be exhausted in fifteen years lhat
applies to a stretch of country which is an empire IN
itself Then "Wil be exhausted in twenty years
Then again. "Wi be exhausted in thirty years" And
then again, gin forty years." and so we have the
prophecy-the prophecy, perhaps, OF the Chiet FOR
ester of the United States-estmating the tate and
the destiny of the timber lands of our country
People who are accuStomd to accepting statements
true without knowing whether or not the party
making the statement has sound basis upon which
to make his prophecy may accept that with degree
of comfort which [ am not capable of feeling under
the circumstances for several years past have had
opportunity to observe numbering in timber that has
grown within my recollection. There are states IN
this Union in which they using in the general
market timber that was planted by the present gener-
alton.
These prophets have left out of consideration
trely the fact that timber grows we'll as dies that
the process of multiplication and renewal has been
going on for untold centuries, and that the supply
of timber upon the worlds surface today is as great
as it at any time in the history of the
world.
Mr. Smoot: I can not harmonic the statement
made thirty minutes ago with the statement that is
made now in relation to the girdling of great trees
cutting them down and rolling them up and burning
them
Mr. Hepburn: Mr.. President, do not suppose the
senator from Utah will be able to harmonic great
many things that shall say. 1t is Just possible he
will not because he is in sympathy with the prophecy
represented by that map upon the wall; and ex-
pect that the map put there for the convenience
of the senator from Utah when he comes to talk
with that certainty and that spirit of prophecy which
he doubtless possesses, but which do not claim to
possess
Senator Hepburn in the course of his argument
paid very handsome tribute to the constitution of
Idaho, in the following language:
We did not come, most states have come to
congress- and ask to be permitted to form govern
ment We formed our government We held
constitutional convention pursuant to an act OF the
legislature, and we met in constitutional convention
on the 4th day of July 1899. AT the end of thirty
days we had formed constitution that will stand
alongside that of any state in the Union for wisdom
conservative and sufficient wisdom: Then we sub
mitted it to the people for their ratification and they
ratified it. Then came to congress, and congress
took up that constitution for investigation. | want
to call your attention to what congress said be-
cause there are now present in this body men who
members of congress at that time. This is what
congress thought of the constitution of Idaho and it
is unusual, it is exceptional This is what congress
said of it. After reciting that the convention
heidi will read the whole clause
Whereas the people of the territory of Idaho did,
on the 4th day of July, 1889, by convention of
delegates called and assembled for that purpose,
form for themselves constitution, which constitution
was ratified and adopted by the people of said ter
ritory at election held therefor the first Tues
day in November, 1889, which constitution is re-
publican in form and is in conformity with the
stitution of the United States; and
"Whereas said convention and the people of said
territory have asked the admission of said territory
into the Union of states equal footing with the
original states in all respects whatever: Therefore,
Be it enacted etc. That the state of Idaho is here
bV he Of
America and is hereby declared admitted into the
Union ON an equal footing with the original states