The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-31

resumed IN tne HOUSE ~
day. The provision relating to the
forest service aroused considerable
discussion. Mr.. Smith. California de-
nounced the forestry service for at
tempting to acquire the Owens River
Valley in California. IN many ways"
he said, ."the service Is doing a great
good. but it is working some outrages
upon certain interests in the western
ciared, referring to the manipulation
of water rights under the laws OF Cali
forna. He openly charged that Mr..
Pinchot, the chief forester. was trying
TO secure these water rights for the
benefit of certain persons against
others, who had made earlier appro-
priation Of the water. There was moi,
he insisted. a single element OF for
estry in the proposition, and It would
be sin to give the forest service to
the great privilege 1t sought! Mr..
Smith said that the party he referred
to as desiring to obtain the water mo-
nopoly was the city OF Los Angeles.
He insisted that the city did not need
the water The city already, he said.
had a perfect water system, and simply
desired ito sweep IN all the water
there and carry 1t out Of the valley.
$50 miles. through twenty miles of
mountain tunnels, for the irrigation of
land adjacent to Los Angeles"
Defends Pinchot.
After a hurried conversation with
Mr.. Pinchot. over the telephone, Mr..
Pollard. Nebraska. declared that Mr..
Pinchot had said that the entire Cali
fornia delegation. Including Mr..
smith" had gone to the department
..and requested and almost demanded
that this reserve be created for the
purpose OF furnishing water supply
to Los Angeles" aud that the city was
entirely dependent on this supply.
Now" he charged, "Mr. Smith comes
here and tries to show that the depart.
mept is trying to create monopoly
Tht policy OF the department. Mr..
Pollard declared. was to prevent mo-
nopolles, rather than 20 create them
Smith Says "Untrue.r
Mr.. Smith denied that Mr.. Pinchot's
statement was true. He asked the
House to call on his colleagues to
bear him out. and Representatives
Kahn. Knowland, Needham and Engle-
bright at once arose to deny Mr..
Pinchot's statement. Following heated
remarks by aIr. Gaines, OF Tennessee,
against the lumber trust. Mr.. Mon
dell, OF Wyoming. sarcastically said
that that gentleman, "for one who had
SO rarely attended meeting of the
Committee on Public Lands" seemed
TO be we'll versed on the subject. Shak-
ing his finger at Mr.. Mondell, Mr..
Gaines declared that he nevertheless
closely followed the action of the
bureau That vast trects OF ur:lmbered
serve was the charge of Mr.. Smith,
who criticized such acti,n. This was
admitted by Mr.. Scott, Kansas, but ne
said the Forestry Bureau had given
prompt attention to petitions In pro-
test. and nad released over 100000
acres OF lands so included.
Mr.. Mondell charged that 1t had
been the rule of the bureau to secure
rather extraordinary opinions from
the Attorney General. He insisted that
tf the President had authority to create
d reserve he had authority to divide
one. Mr.. Smith again got the floor
and speaking of the Recommendation
OF the President that water rights
! should be taxed, denounced MN tor IT,
TO Destroy the Mistletoc.
Mr.. Burleson, Of Texas. made plea
J Tor an investigation of the best means
or preventing the ravages of the
mistletoe and offered an amendment to
1 the effect.
"Is this the mstletoe around which
40 many tender memories cluster?" in
quired Mr. Gaines, OF Tennessee.
TT is" Mr. Burleson responded.
rs the gentleman married or sim
rle?' Mr.. Douglas, of Ohio, asked. "You
might know" interjected Mr. Gaines
che is married"
DO you want to abolish the mistle-
toe In leap year?" asked Mr.. Olmsted
of Pennsylvania
Unable longer to stand these jibes
Mr.. Burleson said:f"I understand there
are many tender memories that cluster
around this pest 1t was. however, lie
said, not a sentimental age. eve are
practical men, he declared "and !
am a practical man, and 1t Is In The
Interests of the forests OF the country
that offer this amendment,
Insisting that 'unmarried folks
should have an opportunity to say
something Mr. Gaines protested We.
llemently against the proposition.
II am not trying to destroy the
protested. mo" said Mr.. Gaines, "yoy
will never see the day you will get
Uncle Sam to Join Texas"
Mr.. Burleson's amendment was lost
IS to AS.
Improper Use of Funds.
More criticism of Mr.. Pinchot was
indulged in when Mr., Mondell offered
an amendment providing that tbs
money for transportation or travelling
expenses OF forest officers or agents
shal'not be paid unless such officials
travelled on business directly connected
with the forest service. &
Mi Mondell charged that such Off
GERS and agents last year had attended
q convention in Denver, With which
the government had nothing to do, AMI
lContlnued on Second iT,a,el l,--T- 4 2