The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-03-13
GOVERNMENT SCORES
NEGLIGENT OFFICERS

ploNtieos any attempt 20 prevent the
setting OF clearing fires would be Bit
teriy resented by their neighbors who
had elected them. The failure Of the
supervisors 20 properly educate their
people TO the danger from fires OF any
kind in dry season and TO take firm
action. where warnings were disregard
ed. unquestionably added millions of
dollars 10 the fire loss in the state. II
is not known that the township fire
wardens received any definite nstruc-
tions from the state authorities TO
carry on any educational work of this
kind or were themselves properly in
formed in regard to the provisions Of
the law
Here are some OF the more striking
measures proposed by the federal for
est experts tor enactment by the pres
ent legislature of this state:
That counties be- held responsible in
money damages whenever fires spread
through the negligence OF officials.
The damages are to be collected by the
persons whose property is injured.
This provision is intended to stop the
lax conduct of officials viii ch was re-
sponsible for much of the fire damage
In Michigan last summer. The theory
of the forest service is that IL the
county has TO foot the bills the super
visors and all other officials charged
with duty as lire wardens will become
thoroughly vigilant.
That punishment be inflicted upon
local fire wardens failing in their du-
ties. BY the legislation proposed many
local officials are clothed with respon-
sibility as lire wardens They are the
supervisors, Justices OF the peace. com
missioners OF highways. sheriffs. un-
dersheritfs and deputy sheriffs It is
proposed that they be required TO re-
port all fires to the state forester or TO
the district warden and to make every
effort to suppress the fire. being sub
ject TO the state forest authorities But
in event OF failure in his duty any
such warden Is liable to removal and
prosecution.
That closed seas on be created from
II April 70 Nov |. in which no fire
may be started upon forest land, ex-
cepting for cooking food or warming
the person. But TO enable farmers TO
clear land.the state forester 10 author
lied personally or through district
wardens TO issue permits to build fires
during the closed season. The issuance
OF such permit shall be preceded by
an official investig alton TO determine
the time and way in which such fires
shall be set and controlled Failure TO
secure a permit subjects the offender
TO fine or imprisonment Any damage
done to noighborlng property, when
fire is started without a permit, sub
jects the offender to.damsges in a civil
suit
That railroads shall not only provide
approved spark arresters, but that, in
times Of danger and upon the order OF
the state forester, they shall patrol
their grades
That state forester be appointed,
subject TO the public domain commits
sion that under him be placed force
OF deputy wardens paid not more than
II, 500 each, and each given charge of
a district that not more than twenty
five OF these districts be created In
those parts of the state where forest
fires are a menace that the district
wardens shall perform tho work here
tofore devolving upon deputy game
wardens and trespass agents
That the state annually appropriate
$3.50. 600 for carrying out the proyisioi
Of the forest law.
The forest service gives hearty APP
prevail 20 the plan Of public domain
commission and 20 the recommenda-
tions Of the state commission of in
quiry It's drastic recommendation
given above are supplemental to recon-
mendations previously made within
the state To the bill proposed by the
commission Of inquiry the forest ser
vice has suggested few minor amend.
ments.
In the vexatious matters Of taxation
OF forest lands. which has ocoasioned
no little questioning in Michigan. the
forest service presents a complete new
bill, which. from the Michigan stand.
point. is revolutionary. This bill pro
poses that the land be taxed entirely
separately from the trees upon IL.
The land tax is TO be levied in ac-
cordance with a valuation based upon
the value of neighboring land. No
tax whatever Is to be levied upon the
trees until they are cut, when they
shall be tared IN nor cant of THAR val