The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-12

GOVERNOR SMITH or GEORGIA
TALKS OF FoREsT PRES
ERvATIoN.

r. J 4
hight from waship gson, where he APP
peared on Thursday before the COM
mittee on agriculture Of the House Of
Representatives. at tue head of a dele
ration from 20 States, to urge upon
congress the appropriation Of $4,000
coo for the reservation of forests
along the slopes OF the Appalachian
and White mountains. The commit
ice gave the delegation thorough
hearing. and its chairman stated at
the conclusion OF ths hearing that the
committee had been PIT in possession
~ information, which not only showed
thorough research, but impressed the
committeeman with the necessity OF
doing something for the preservation
Of the forests throrghout the territory
suggested, says Tie Atlanta Journal.
Governor Smith. Governor Floyd,
Of New Hampshire, and a Mr.. Mar
shall, of Boston, wtre the only three
speakers before the committee, and
each OF these occupied but a short
time. Governor Smith, as the chair
man of the entire delegation, to which
responsible position he was unani-
rlously chosen in his absence and with
cut his knowledge, occupied the time
before the committee in the presenta-
ton of expert witnesses, who gave
Testimony upon v1ltous phases of the
question Of forestry preservation. He
presented the case as II he were try
ing an important law suit and showed
t. The committee the actual and urgent
necessity for the reservations asked.
Among the witnesses were Clifford Pin
chot, chief OF the bureau of forestry
Of the departm mt of agriculture, WHO
is strong advocers of the reservation;
A. NJ. SChoen, of Atlanta, electrical
expert OF tho Southeastern Tariff as
ISOLATION; Professor Glenn. of Wander
bilt university, and experts from Wash
lnytrn. West Viz. mia. Pennsylvania,
Nct.h s:oIfna an. other States.
Governors Address.
In his brief address to the commit
Tee Governor Smith addressed him
self to the question of the constitu-
tionality Of the proposed appropriation.
Having shown beyond question that
the preservation Of forests possessed
direct and Intimate connection with
the question of the navigation of riv'
rrs, the governor argued that IL the
rational government could, under the
clause referring to the general wei.
fare of the republic. appropriate mil
lions for keeping open the rivers of
The country, with equal constitution
atty. could it apply public funds to
the prevention of filling up the riy-
e,s. 1t was generally admitted at the
conclusion of the argument. that he
llssipated whatever fears might have
been held SO far as regards the matter
Of constitutIonality.
Economic Question.
Il regard the matter of reserving
..lese Appalachian White mountain for
rsts," said Governor Smith Saturday
morning, "as the most important eco
nomic question now before the entire
public living east of the Mississippi
liver. find the subject not only
highly attractive from standpoint of
study, but IL we propose to look after
cur timber our water power and our
navigation 1t is vital, urgent ques-
ton, needing the earliest solution.
after consultation with n number of ex-
,,erts, I decided to present our case
10 the committee as would law
case. divided tho question into three
parts: First, fore is as they affect
timber; second, as they affect water
power. and third, rs they affect navi-
cation. Iput expert witnesses before
.hc committee in each of these three
lines of research, and think we prov
I'd beyond doubt that the reservation
asked for, is an absolute necessity.
am sure that the showing we made
impressed the members of the commit
lee, us several OF them told me so vol
.mtarily. The chairman stated that
'he hearing was different from those
Usually held. in TINT it opened the
eyes of the members to the vital, ur-
gent need of taking care of our for
ests. and showed by unanswerable ex-
pert testimony wnot would be the re-
suit of further neglect"
A Notable Hearing.
1.-THE hearing WIS a notable one,"
continued the governor, because men
nom distantly. separated localities,
having different political views, gath
c,ed together to present great eco.
aomic question purely from business
standpoint. New Hampshire, Yer.
mont. Pennsylvania Connecticut; Mas.
spchusetts Ohio, Illinois and other
eastern and western States. Joined
rands with West virginia, North Caro-
lima, Kentucky. Tennessee, Georgia.