The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-05-26

France for reforestaton at vast ex-
ptnse, IN order to prevent alternating
foods and periods OF low water.
This Is the second time that this bill
has passed the senate. The president
has urged the measure upon congress
In nearly every one Of his important
messages throughout the year. A ma
jority OF the members of the house are
believed to favor It, but the political
leaders Of the house claim that they
cannot take "hasty action" because
the matter Is "too important" Had
they been sincere about its Importance
It must have passed Immediately The
situation Is like that outlined py ex'
Governor Pardee Of California at tho
presidents conference last week Gov
ernor Glenn had spoken OF vox populi
vox Del, and Governor Pardee added
that he had observed In matters of I'M
portant legislation another voice
abroad in the land, vox Cannonl, which
he was inclined to think was neither
the voice of God, nor the voice of the
people,
The situation In the house is this the
committee on agriculture was reorgan-
lied by the speaker at this session with
two important friends Of this measure
left off, and several new members from
the middle west, unfamiliar with IT, put
on The committee found itself divided
half and half, one part favoring imme-
date passage Of the bill, and the other
part DESTROYS OF investigating what
could be done for these and other wa
ter-sheds not already protected by ma
| tional forests. The result Is that the
committee has recommended to the
house the appointment of another com
mission, FIVE members OF the house and
five Of the senate, with an appropria-
ton Of $4,000 for expenses, to investi-
! gate the situation. At the session of
congress year ago $4,000 was appro-
prlated for an investigation of the
southern Appalachian and White
Mountains by the secretary of agricul-
ture, who has made n complete and
satisfactory report Of both regions,
urging prompt action by congress. Pre-
operation with the states at both ends
of the line, made a most careful and
thorough study of all the facts con-
cerned including the value Of the sew
eral tracts of land, and the amount OF
timber upon them. A new commission
made up of persons not familiar with
the subject looks like a political trick
to postpone action. The faintest indica-
tion of approval on the part of the
speaker, either in this or the preceding
congress. would have been quite suf-
ficlent to bring this measure promptly
and favorably from his committee The
house committee on judiciary rendered
decision that forests can be purchas-
ed by the government only In the in.
terest of navigation, whereupon the
bills in the house and senate were botf
promptly redrawn. That in the senate
has passed. Why not the one in the
house?
When the mill owners of New Eng
land find their power disturbed by pro
tracted low water, let them reflect up
on their form of popular government
and when the advancing scarcity o
wood again doubles the price Of houses
furniture and tools, let the people ash
II this is the voice of the speaker, wht
has INSTRUCTED a measure wisely
planned for relief, that has been re
peatedly endorsed by the president, b,
the senate, by the forest service by en-
gneers, lumbermen, scientific associa
lions and a unanimous press.