The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-08-21
FORESTRY
BILL KILLED
Met An Unexpected
Death.
REALLY GREAT SURPRISE
Furnishes One Of the Anti
Qimaxes Of the Session.
Bil Had Gone Through Two Readings
with Little Opposition, When
Suddenly 1t Was Talked
to Death.

One of the really great surprises OF
this session of the Legislature was the
total defeat OF the forestry bill in the
House of Representatives last night by
an almost unanimous vote. As the
law which has been on the statute book
since the session of 1907 Is invalid be-
cause Of violation of the constitution
In the passage thereof. Alabama 10 now
without any sign Of a regulation apply
ing to the preservation of forests.
It furnished one of the -climaxes
of the session. Following q conference
of the Governor, United States forestry
experts and members OF the State Com
mission of Forestry few months ago,
a policy was agreed upon to encourage
more economical cutting of the trees
and the Limitation of the size of the
cut. At the same time II was realized
that the bill Of the 1907 session never
actually became law because of Its un-
constitutionality. The Governor was
prevailed upon to incorporate into a
redraft of the old bin the radical fea-
lures which have been described at
earlier stages of the session. Then
Governor Conner put the subject In his
call which gave'it the privilege of pas
sage with a. bare majority instead Of
o-thirds.
No sooner had the measure been in
troduced In the Senate than lumber
men, State wide. set up their loud cry
OF opposition. They were alarmed at
the drastic clause which would have
forbidden any cut Of pine trees of less
than twelve inches In diameter for
lumber purposes or fifteen inches for
turpentine purposes. two feet above
ground. Immediately a lobby and pub
iicity campaign was started which re-
suited in eliminating this part of the
bill In the Senate Committee. And
when 1t came up in that body Ii was
passed without considerable opposition.
Last night when there was a scarce
quorum In attendance, when things
were dragging heavy and members
| listed carelessly, the forestry measure
was called. 1t was explained by the
| administration leader, Mr.. John, OF
Jefferson, that the bill was simply a
re-enactment of the law that had been
passed at a previous session of the
| Legislature. but which had been as.
| sassinated In the Senate Clerks room.
| Then the bill went to its third reading
| One or two members pricked up their
ears, the murmurs in the hall got low.
err and lower and at the end of Its
reading. Mr.. Tunstall, of Hale. arose
/ with a determined expression, to teai
certain parts OF the measure to pieces
This he did with vengeance, all tht
| while Hon. John H. Wallace, Jr., Sec
rotary OF the Forestry Commission. sit
ting In the House-one Of the official
to whom the bill was very dear.
Points Out weakness.
! Ii took only ive minutes for Nj
Tunstall to point out clearly that MI
re-enactment. There were severa
Innovations and at the end Of hi
speech Mr.. TunstalI. in quick order
moved to table the bill. Mr.. John ask
| ed him to withdraw the motion. which
was done. and some explanation en-
sued. But the storm was still raging
and II was evident that nothing coult
stop Its death. The blu, on the re
newal of the motion to table, was kill
ed by a practically unanimous vote.
The features OF the bill which wer
fatal seemed to be the tax exemption
clause. the section which made 1t
| misdemeanor for any person to set fir'
to his land which communicated to ad
Joining property-it now being a civil
liability only-and the clause which
made 1t mandatory on counties to sup
port forest wardens at a stipulated sal
airy, whereas the original bill made 1
loptional with the county. Moreover
there was a feature which Gompellet
railroads to put on new spark equip
ment and keep rights of way cleared
Thus did the movement TO strengthen
forest preservation In Alabama, begul
so auspiciously q month or two age
collapse at the crucial moment. leav
ing the State WITHOUT the vestige OF
law. It was the surprise of the SEES
sion in many ways. And 1t portend
what awaits any bill that even in tn
hurried Liquidation Of this session !
laden with 'jokers."
When the bill lay on the table, Nj
Lacy, of Dallas. moved for unanimou
consent to extend the privileges OF tn
floor to Mr.. Wallace. State Game an
Fish Commissioner. The motion evok
ed considerable laughter.
The Management Of the orpheum ,