The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-02-02
DEPT.
GETS KNOCKS
APPROPRIATION
BILL INTRODUCTION is SIG
NAL FOR EXPRESSIONS
CONGRESSMEN UNRESERVED IN
WHAT THEY THINK OF FOR
EsTRY DEPARTMENT

WASHINGTON, Feb. IA running
fire of criticism was poured into the
forestry service in the house today
when the agricultural appropriation bill
was under consideration. The entire
session was devoted to the forestry
schedule.
Representatives Mondell of Wyoming
and Taylor of Colorado were the CHIEF
critics of the bureau of forestry, which
found many defenders in the house.
Mr. Mondell replied to an inquiry
made by Representative Mann of Iilli-
nois as to why the national forests
could not be made profitable now, if
ever, and said the reason was found
in the ''scandalous extravaganza" that
nharacto~i~~d the conduct of the for
estry service. .
Mucn u1 It's money, he said, was
spent for objects in no way related
to the cutting of timber or to the
protection Of forests from fire. Con-
yentions of foresters, held simultane-
Ously with gatherings in which hostile
criticism was likely to be voiced for
the purpose of offsetting such criti-
cism press bureau work, unnecessary
travelling expenses and the mainte-
nance of large forces of employees in
Washington and elsewhere were among
the items of extravaganza enumerated
Appropriation Not Reduced
However, in no instance was an ap.
preparation for the bureau of forestry
reduced today by the house
Mr.. Mondelrs attack was precipi-
tated by a statement by Mr.. Mann
that if forest reservations ever were
to be profitable, he could not see why
they were not profitable now.
THE forests are practically virgin"
said Mr.. Mann, land the timber is
as far advanced as it ever will be"
Representative Scott of Kansas, in
charge of the bill, explained that the
timber was cut at a profit, but that
the profit was more than overcome by
| the expense of caring for the forests.
Il can reply to that question: in
terjected Mr. Mondell. 1.-The admins
tration of the forest service Is so
scandalously extravagant that it would
/ be impossible to pay the expenses
| from the revenue from cutting the
F.! timber"
I! In response to questions, Mr.. Mon
cut in the national forests only by
! the great lumber corporations. Those
men pail Sc for stumpage, he de-
| clared, when stumpage on private
tracts was only $3.50, but they did mot
complain because they enjoyed a mon
/ opoly of such stumpage.
! To make a good showing, he con-
tinued, great sheepherders made out
many applications for permits, each of
their employees getting a permit. 1t
was by that method, he said, that
j it was made to appear that small graz
ers were accommodated in the forest
! reserves.
Mr.. Mondell said that on January
II, when there was a meeting of the
national wool growers association at
| ogden, there was meeting of 100 or
200 rangers and supervisors in that
city at the same time, and he under
stood that they did much to make the
stay of the wool growers III Odgen
pleasant.
Representative Taylor of Colorado
questioned Chairman Scott as to the
reason for including in the forest re-
serve lands without timber.
Mr.. Scott said former Chief Fores-
ter Pinchot had claimed that such
and could be planted with trees
DO you not know" declared Mr..
Taylor, that at elevations of 1000 and
5000 feet it will take 500 years to grow
forest, and at higher attitudes the
time required will be longer?''
In his own state, he claimed, land
worth $500, or $500 an acre was in
i Guided in forest reserves.