The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-26
Representative p Ollar d
Would Create Reserves
by Proclamation.
AIMS TO SPARE
TREES IN EAST
Extension of Interstate Commerce
Power Proposed to Help
Nation.

The House Committee on Agrl-
culture viii give a hearing this week
on the bills before it, looking 10 estao-
lishment OF forest reserves in the APP
Ialachian regions. Two measures, by
Weeks of Massachusetts and Pollard
of Nebraska, are receiving particular
attention. They aim 90 accomplish the
same end, but by different processes.
The problem I'm connection with the
forest reserves i'm the East is that their
development ueCCssiJates the aCquisi-
ton by the Government of vast areas
OF land now I'm private hands, and GER
tain to be held at fancy nsuTes as
soon as the Government appears as a
possible buyer. This question of eX-
peuse has been the chief reason for
the objections of Speaker Cannon and
other people with their eyes ora the
diminishing revenues Because Do pro
noses 10 give the country the reserves,
and Vet 10 avoid the necessity of buy
ing lands, the Pollard bin has been
getting considerable attention. 1t is
= unique and most daring effort TO pro-
iect the Governments Interstate COM
merce power into "a new realm.
Pollard's Daring Plan
Briefly stated the Pollard bin pro-
poses that the Federal Forest Service
may make Investigations and deter
mine where forest reserves are needed.
This done, III may proclaim the extern
sion of the Forest Service regulations
over such tracts. by WhomeVer owned,
as it may desire. Thus If the greatSouth-
eru Appalachian reserve were decided to
be desirable. it would be established by
mere proclamation. Thereafter the Coy
eminent would be In complete control OF
all forestry concerns within the defined
Texas and owned by as many different
people. And the process of giving IL
This control without buying the lands.
Is The daring proposal.
Tt Is provided that after proclamation
OF the reserve the owner Of land In
Guided within ii shall not be permit
TED TO enter his lumber or other timber
products IN Interstate commerce. unless
he shall have cOmplied with the forestry
regulations of the Federal Government
That's all there is TO it, The Forest
Service is given fuu power 10 control
all forest regulations.
Tt may prescribe the amount OF an
nual cutting 10 be allowed, may require
Teplauung or other attention, may IN
slst that no timber at all shall be cut
for such period AS 81 may choose, and
1n general may prescribe every regula-
ton These regulations are MOI abb
Sclute. Nobody Is compelled 10 obey
them But II the owner OF the land
proposes TO raise and cut and sell tim
Der In Interstate commerce. then ne
must have raised IL iu compliance with
The requirements or the Government
Tegulal tons.
Stretch Of Power.
The measure undertakes TO stretch
the interstate commerce power further
than the meat inspection on any ether
measure thus Ear undertaken. 1t goes
farther even than the BeveTidge child
labor biH. though st. j. modelled on the
lines of that bin Thare is much uues-
ton whether IL ls constitutional The
large question is raised where does Iu-
IersLate commerce begin. and how far
may the Government follow q tree and
its products i'm order 20 decide whether
81 has been deatr with. Do interstate
commerce, in violation of The law
For instance, man raises timber
within one OF these reserves He cuts
IL and sells 10 60 citizen of the same
state. which ls permissible That Cltl-
zen sells u 10 pulp mill within the
mill makes u into paper stiu entire
ly proper, The paper maker sells the
paper 10 man Ia another state.
Query-DOes that step. watch finally
Inerce5 long aLEeF Do has passed out or
control of the lands owner, constitute
"a violation of the laW2 III iT does. can
= law whose possible effects are $50
tar-reaclluE, and involve SO many pro-
cessess be made practical.
3lT. Pollard believes LIs bill is aI
right, and Will give the reserves with
out bauErupuug the Government. He
doesn't believe IL VIII lunlrL hardship.
either. on people owning the lands, but
that iu the end II win profit them The
American Forestry Association and
many other organizations interested bal
extension ot reserves East. have APP
proved &C..