The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-30
Montana Senator Charges For
mer Chief Forester With
Misuse of Many Millions.
INCOMPETENT, EGOTISTICAL,
TYRANNICAL, HE SAYS
Declares That Only a Tithe of
the Vast Sums Appropriated
Was Properly Used.

HELENA, Mont. Aug. 29-Unted
States Senator Thomas H Carter. reply
Ing TO a recent interview of Clifford Pin
| chot, tonight made this statement:
Mr.. Clifford Pinchot, late chief for
ester, has rushed into print to shift re-
sponsibility for tho distressing forest
fires that have devastated so much OF the
western country. He could not but real
lie that the causes leading to the dis
aster which has overtaken the forests OF
the west would be investigated, and he
well knows that investigation win show
that the default rests chiefly with him
self. He says that Hepburn, Mondell and
Carter are responsible because they OPP
posed appropriations for forest protcc-
ton, The fact Is that the gentlemen
named opposed the misapplication of the
FUNDS appropriated for forest protection
Denies Favoring Reduction.
Reductions in appropriations were
never urged except as to moneys being
applied by Mr. Pinchot to purposes apart
from forest protection. Since 1896 con-
forestry service, In addition to that
prlncely amount the forestry service col
lected for timber and use OF the forests,
without direct appropriation by congress,
a sum which L believe will aggregate lie
about $5,000.e coo. 1t was the plain intent
of congress and the country that the
IIlOUeS lNuS appropriated. collected and
used should be employed to safeguard
the growing timber on the public domain
within the limits OF forest reservations
The records of the office over which
the congressional appropriations only ST.
1000 was used for Improvements OF the
national forests. whereas. the eXtraordi-
nary sum OF S19, ,923. .0G0 was used for gen
cluded In general expenses appears a
salary list of s796.62o. 1t will be per-
ceived that about 80 per cent OF all the
money appropriated was used for general
expenses Including the payment Of lee
turers. the payment of editorial writer's
and reporters, the maintenance of a bu-
ploitation of Mr. Pinchot and his absurd
campaign for the presidency OF the Unit
ed States.
Misuse of Funds Charged.
Il venture TO say that the expendi- /
lures OF the forestry bureau under Mr..
Pinchot when critically examined will
show the most amazing misuse OF pub
lie funds that ever occurred in the his
tory Of this government. II an officer
charged with providing naval equipment
or army stores or the preparation for
war in any form had been found guilt
OF only investing about 10 per cent OF the
money entrusted TO him for tho purpose
In view. he would. In time of war be
and shot. IN tho aggre-
gate approximately So. 200. 600 were en-
trusted to Pinchot's bureau and It now
Lui MS CUT tndt no adequate provision was |
made to enable the foresters OF the peo-
pie to stay the ravages of fire. Under |
The Pinchot policy the settlers were ruth |
essly driven from their homes In the |
oTest regions; the mining prospcctors |
we're prosecuted and prosecuted until ex-
oloration for hidden mines became bur
iensome, Tho settlers. prospectors and |
ns force within tho forests Their ex-
oulsion involved startling acts of injus-
Ice and tyranny, and their absence from
he forests in the days OF need left III
insuarded timber an easy prey To The
lanes. Tho handful of forest rangers
lid the best they could. but they could d,
little because the money appropriated 10
'repare for fire fighting had been mlsap-
,lied under the administration OF Clifford
'inchot"