The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-03-02
Hepburn Tries to Induce Senate
to Cut Appropriation for
Reserves to 81, 100000.
WESTERN SENATOR'S
SUPPORT AMENDMENT
Desired Action Not Taken, and
Clark of Wyoming Serves
Notice as TO Future.

WASHINGTON, March Senator
Hepburn Of Idaho tonight made a futile
attempt in the senate to reduce the an
nual expenditures for the maint enance
of national forest reserves from more
than five million dollars 10 one million
dollars. by introducing an amendment to
the agricultural bill and brought down
on his head the wrath of friends of the
forest service who said he WAS trying
to Kill settled policy OF the government.
The question arose in connection with
the agricultural appropriation bill, The
amendment was defeated, so TO -.
"This amendment comes from an open,
frank and avowcd enemy of the forest
policy Of the United States" ychemently
declared Senator Root OF New York
Upon the proposal OF Il single enemy of
a settled policy Of the government we
arc asked to take this step. There has
been no report of a committee in support
OF il: II comes without recommendation,
aud | protest against il.
Service Said to Be Too Costly.
Several senators said they thought the
forest service was too costly and that the
appropriationS ought TO he reduced, but
that the amendment offered by Mr. Hey
burn went too far. Among these we're
MesSre. Borah OF Idaho and Galinser of
New Hampshire.
To these suggestions. Mr.. Hepburn said
he proposed 10 follow the amendment
With another proposition. which. il adopt
ed, would eliminate at least a third OF
the forest reserves.
Reference was made by Senator Flint
of California TO the disastrous forest fires
OF last year. lie said the appropriation
ought to bc increased so that the secre-
tary of agriculture might so on building
trails and hrebrcalIs,
Attention was also directed TO the fact
that II costs more than two million dol
lars to pay salaries and rentals in the
city of Washington for the forest service.
Declares Expenditures Useless.
Mr.. Hepburn said the Washington ex-
pense was wasted unless II was proposed
TO fight fires by wireless telegraph which
he said would be just as feasible as some
of the methods that have been used. He
| thought the million dollars he proposed
to have expended would be sufficient for
| the building OF trails. Mr.. Hepburn
said that in one way and another con
gress is approprlating almost $4,000: 600
] annually for the protection OF the for
| csts He charged the forcsters with using
the reserves for their own benefit.
| He alleged that profit is made by col
lccting bounies for killing wild animals.
| '"rhey create the reserves. prevent others
| from hunting, Kill the game themselves
and collect from the state They have a
| urivate suaD" he said.
| Senator Clark OF Wyoming denounced
the forestry system IN warm terms and
| in doing so lie warned the eastern scna-
! tors that the time would come when
| thcv would rue the day they had pro-
| cured the establishment of reserves in
| the White mountains and the southern
| Appalachians-
Reserves Forced Upon the West,
| He said the western people had been
| forced To accept the reserves against
| their will with the result that they were
! prevented from developing the resources
! OF the country.
| some inquiries concerning the nationa
| nurseries, Replying, Senator Nelson un-
| dcrtook 10 tell about the forestry nur-
| series In Alaska and elected n burst oi
| laughter by relating that when lie was
a boz he had worked in Il nursery
rn.r.n