Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-01
CoNGRESSMEN CONTINUE
ATTACKS ON FORESTRY

BY Associated Press
WASHINGTON, March 81. - After
having undergone many changes the
paragraph of the agricultural appro-
priation bill relating to the bureau, OF
forestry was finally passed by the house
of representatives today. Messrs. Mon
dell of Wyoming and Smith of Califor-
mia continued their attacks on the
bureau, and in this they were sup
posted by Messrs., Boynge of Colorado
and Cushman of Washington. These
embraced charges that the bureau had
created timber monopolies in favor of
large corporations, illegally assumed
jurisdiction over water rights belong
ing to the western states, and juggled
with fgures in order to obtain large
appropriations from congress. The
work of the bureau was vigorously de-
Tended by Messrs. Hepburn of Iowa
and Scott of Kansas.
Mr. Boynge of Colorado offered an
amendment providing that no part of
the appropriation shall be used by
either the secretary of agriculture or
the bureau of forestry in the enforce
ment of any EesEflation (which pro-
hibits or attenTTdcs to prohibit the citi-
zens of the states wherein the national
forests are located from appropriating
for beneficial uses the waters of the
national streams thereon, according To
the laws of said states and the statutes
of the United Sta1eS.
Mr. Boynge read from a number OF
authorities to show that the govern
lnent did not own the waters of non
naVigable streams On the other hand
he declared, those waters were tht
property of the states, and the govern
ment had no right to make a charge fol
them.
This contention was combatted by
Mr.. Scott, who said there was nothing
profound or unusual in the proposition
Stripped of it's legal phraseology, this
proposition of Mr.. Boynge, he said. was
to allow any individual or corporation
to use any land of the United States
TO the exclusion of any other indiVidua
or corporation without money and with
out price.
Amendment Defeated
THE present conduct of the forestry
service" said Mr.. Scott, "in requiring
a reasonable fec to be charged when a
corporation carries its works over land
owned by the United States is only
such conduct as every private citizen
exercises in the management of his
own business
Mr.. Boynge's amendment was de-
feated.
Mr. Mondell was by this time ready
with another attack on the forestry
bureau. He charged that in it's admin
istration citizens were, in many in
stances. denied right of way across
forest reserves.
"tThe proposition is said he
whether the states of Maryland Nir-
ginia, West Virginia, North Carolina
South Carolina and even the great state
of New York are to become fedora
provinces or remain part of the
sovereign states, and whether this for
estry bureau shall persist in denying
the citizens the rights granted by con-
gress.
An amendment to meet this criticism
was lost.
Mr.. Mondell next directed his atten-
tion to the committee on agriculture
and said it had been in a reckless state
of mind when it allowed to the forestry
bureau 100000 more than had beer
estimated for. He charged that, being
a lump sum, it could be used for any
purpose, Including advertising"
The statement was controVerted by
Mr.. Scott. who read a letter from Sec
retary Wilson saying the 100000 was to
cover unforeseen items. Mr.. Scott de-
Tended his committee, declaring 1t had
prepared a very conservative bill.
Charging that the forestry bureau
had, contrary to it's claim, expended
annually over 81. 100000 more than it re-
ceived, Mr. Mondell said that bureau
goes year after year juggling figures
He moved to strike out the appropra-
tion of $500,000 for the proper and
economical administration, protection
and development of the national
forests"
Mr.. Hepburn, speaking with much
felvor. criticised what he said We're the
"chirpings" against economy AS to