The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-05-26
PLUMLEY'S WORK
With Mr.. Lever of South Car
DINA, Prepared Report on
Wee'ss Bill
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Relates to Purchase of White Noun
tain and Appalachian Forest Re-
serves and Protection of Water
sheds of Nayigable Streams.

Washington, May 3.-Congressman
Frank j. Plumley, who is member
of the Committee on Agriculture, Is
the Joint author with Congressman A.
+. Lever of South Carolina. of the
report on the bill commonly known
as the Weeks bill, relating to the pro-
lection of the watersheds of navigable
streams and the purchase or acquire
ment in other ways of forest lands
ia the White Mountains and the APP
palachians.
The committee did not divide along
party lines on this bill. Chairman
Scott and some of the other Republi-
cans We're opposed to it as were sew
eral of the Democratic members but
at the time the vote was taken, the
committee stood II to in favor of
it. Mr.. Plumley represented the Re-
publican membership of the commit
tee and Mr.. Lever represented the
Democrats, favoring this bill selected
by their associates to prepare the ma
jority report and to defend it in the
House, while Chairman Scott and his
associates, who opposed the bill, pre-
pared the report of the minority.
In stating the general scope of the
bill the report of Messrs. Plumley and
Lever says:
The bill is national in its scope.
While it's proponents have the South
ern Appalachian and White Noun
tains in mind as the regions most vi
tai at present, in which it's princi-
pies directly apply, it will be noticed
that they may be applied to any sec
ton in which the necessity may exist
or arise. 1t is reasonable to suppose
that in the application of its princi-
pies the Southern and Eastern secs
lions of the country would be given
first consideration, because of the
greater necessity in these sections
for immediate preventive and protec-
tive remedies.
The objects sought in this bill APP
peal to every American On grounds OF
broadcast and most unselfish patriot
ism. 1t is the first step in the di-
rection and fundamental to the great
movement for the conservation of our
natural resources which is the vital
point around which the constructive
thought and craftsmanship of the pre-
sent are building for the future. II
is the most practical and Immediately
necessary of the conservation meas
ures that have been proposed, anC
was strongly pointed out to be such
by President Roosevelt in enunciat
ing the conservation policy. 1t in
wolves the smallest initial expenditure
the least probable future expenditure
and the surest return upon the in
vestment, judging the experience O.
every country that has practiced fol
a sufficient term of years a compre
hensive and efficient forestry polio.
of any project embodied in the con
servation movement. 1t seeks to con
serve one of the richest of our natura
assets from serious impairment if no
destruction, our navigable waterways
The bill involves an issue OF nat
ional equity, and appeals strongly t
the Nations sense of equity withou
regard to section or party utilization
Years ago the original States of thu
East obtained by purchase and ces
sion a great national domain west o
the Mississippi. Out of this domain
many of the States of the West wer
carved and endowed with all of tn
rights of the original thirteen. II
their development the older State
contributed by liberal legislation, in
vestments, and by the initiation o
national improvement enterprises 70
which the whole country, not the ney
tSates alone, contributed the funds
Finally, for the good of the wohle, TO
the protection and welfare of the fu
ture of this Western country, the Ma
ton took out of the market million
of acres of it's land, gave up its eX
pectation of returns to the amour
of over $400,000,000, in which al
would have shared, in order that ben
eficent forests might be maintaine