The Washington herald., 1908-05-09
Nelson and DOlliyer Reply to
Critics Of Reserves.
FORMER CAUSES LAUGHTER
Debate EnIlyened by AnecdOte and
Repartee from Minnesota Senator.
DOlIiver Thinks Time Is Not Far
on When Wood VIII Not BE Fac
tor In Worlds Industry.

/
| to-day an hour earlier than usual, and
try 10 do something If that tired feel
ing, together with individual attacks of
verbosity, a disease that is prevalent in
the Senate. has not supervened overnight,
the agricultural bill may be passed to-
day before adjournment
/ Continuing until late in the afternoon
his extended attack upon the forest
preservation policy in general. and the
personnel of the service in particular.
Senator Teller yesterday offered a slight
amelioration of his statement of the pre-
vious day, to the effect that the Presi-
dent had withheld his signature to a bin
prohibiting further forest reservation in
certain States, by submitting an explana-
ton which the President made at the
time. but which Mr. Teller said he had
only been made acquainted with after
the Senate adjourned on Thursday.
In it the President set forth that the
reservations of 100000 acres. made be-
tween the passage of the limitation bin
and his signature thereto. had been de-
termined upon before the bin was passed,
and expressed a willingness TO have Con-
gress set aside his reservation If It felt
that he had not acted for the best in
terests Of the country.
Defends Forester PinchOt.
When Mr.. Teller had concluded, Senator
Nelson. Of Minnesota. undertook 10 make
a brief defense OF the forest reservation
policy and Of Clifford Pinehot, chief for
ester He pointed out on a map hanging
on the wall OF the Senate chamber. the
relative forestation OF the United States
and the gradual dwindling in the forest
area, and gave instances of the destruc-
ton wrought in his own and other States
as an indication Of the need for reserva-
ton
Mr.. PinChot. he said. had embarked
upon this great work in the face of i'm
mense difficulty and opposition. and had
achieved results which could not be too
highly commended. He was. Mr.. Nelson
admitted in some cases. mere radical
than he should be- but he was an expert
OF the highest order In the work which
ne had undertaken. and a man actuate3
by motives OF which any public man Ia
the United States might well be proud
Mr.. Nelson defended the right OF the
government not only to exercise control
over the public lands within the States,
but 10 the ownership of the trees. grasses,
and the riparian rights on such lands to
the same extent that any private owner
might have.
Nelson Tells story,
This Immediately plunged the SeB9tIr
into a controversy with Mr.. Teller. which
was not without bitterness on the lat
ter's part. Mr.. Fulton, OF Oregon, and
MIR. Warren joined in. and a sparkling
bit OF debate ensued Mr.. Nelson referred
to the forests in some OF the Western
States as "scrubby." and Mr. Fulton ask
ed that he be a bit more specific in
naming the States as he had been talking
to some extent about Oregon.
"Oh, well, replied Mr.. Nelson. I'm in
the position OF the priest In one Of the
/ Northwestern States who was collecting
/ money for his church. He went TO a
i salOon-nOt an ordinary frontier saloon,
but one of those gilded concerns OF which
we have all read. Tim, he said 10 the
proprietor. I'd like $50 Of you for my
| church. Well. father replied Tim.
/ faith, an Oi don't think yez ought 10
ak money av me, for you're always run
min down my business oh. now. Tim,
me boy, replied the father don't COM
! plain Of elegant places like youTs-its
the ordinary barroom that I object to. 4"
The Senator's explanation" said Sena-
tor Fulton. amid the laughter Of his col
| leagues, lis entirely satisfactory"
Gives Teller "a Dig.
Again Mr.. Nelson brought laughter
when, replying TO an argument from Mr.
Teller. who had questioned his rendering
Of a court opinion he said
Wait a minute Here's the opinion Of
the court producing a volume OF Su-
lpreme Court decisiOns-"Tl read It, and If
the Senator thinks that the court is
wrong he can correct the court"
The Senator from Minnesota was pro-
eeeding when Senator Fulton and Senator
Teller arose simultaneously
IN yield-TH yield" cried Mr. Nelson;
draw lots between you"
Discussing the riparian rights OF the
government IN forest reserves. Mr.. Nell
son referred to the report which he re-
Gently made on the Presidents PROPOSE
ton that clause be inserted IN the Mis-
souri, River bill 20 protect the navigation
OF the stream. His attention was called
70 rule OF law regarding riparian rights
III,
advancing toward his interrOgator: "ane
said in my report on that dam bill"
He stopped short, noting that his fell
iow-Senators looked startled Then they
commenced to laugh and the galleries
look up the cue, and laughter spread
Throughout the chamber.
| / mean, said Mr. Nelson, trying again.
| the Missouri River dam BILL" and the
laughter began afresh.
Would Double Approximation.
When Mr.. Nelson had concluded Mr.
Dolliver, Of Iowa. took up the defense
of the Forestry Service. He said he had
perfect confidence in the administration
OF the Department Of Agriculture. and
especially in 'the skill and integrity with
which the estimates are prepared" This
was in reply to insinuations made on
Thursday, that too many appropriations
were being made in lump sums and with
out sufficient information as to where
they were to go.
The forestry policy" said the Sen
ator from Iowa, has survived the ig-
norance Of its friends; I hope it will sur
vive the malice Of its enemies. I am not
| doubtful OF its surviving these fnsinua-
tions and underhand attacks"
IN graphic manner. Mr.. Dolliver re-
i seribed trip of inspection taken by
himself into some of the Western re-
serves, and the character of the forest
rangers and their methods. which he de-
Tended in general. His description OF
/ the civil war" of the cattlemen and
sheep men In the Western forests and on
the great prairies was particularly dram
attic. He favored the continuation of the
forestry policy, and would be glad to see
| the appropriation for the purpose doubled.
/ but he did not credit the stories that
the forests Of this country were almost
/ depIefed or that there would he M roora