Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-03

and held by the State Treasury as
fund to be used to protect said lands
from fire, and for no other purpose.
ThiS fund amounts annually to about
$4,000. You with notice the word
delay is used twice in the preamble
to said act as above quoted, and yet,
the administrative features provided
by this statute, and as it has proved
in its actual workings, has caused the
statute to be looked upon by the peo-
pie of Maine with such disfavor on
account of delay in the payment of
bills for the actual protection of the
forests from fires.
The State Land Agent and Forest
Commissioner in his report for 1912
calls especial attention to it. He says
Following the present method of first
auditing and, approving the bills by
the Forest Commissioner, then for
wardingi them to the State Auditor
for a second auditing, at the con-
venience of his clerical force, and then
again awaiting for action by the Gov
nor and Council, and payment by the
State Treasurer makes a long process
and delay that is hard to explain to
a crew of men who are waiting for
their money" and he recommends
that this statute be so amended that
the forest commissioner be made a
disbursing agent with authority to
pay promptly all men who are en-
gagged in the work of putting out for
est fires, and | most heartily endorse
his recommendation.
There are several oth6r suggestions
in his report in regard to the man
agement of our forests, of their value
to the State. and the Importance OF
this protection, which are timely and
worthy of your careful reading and
consideration.
AS the timberland owners have
voluntarily taken it upon them
selves TO bear the burden of this
/ u mill extra tax upon their lands.
l had hoped that it would prove
sufficient to d meet the expenses
necessary for this work, but it seems
that the department is yet behind in
meeting the expenses with the amount
received from this source. 1t also
seems that at the outset ii first paid
for a large amount of what might be
called old bills, for the establishment
of lookout stations, telephone lines,
and tolls. and that, without these un-
usual expenses in the future, and
lars which this department has been
getting, and 1 hope will continue to
get from the federal government I'M
der the terms of what is popularity
known as the Weeks BILL no addi-
tional tax will be necessary. How
ever, if after careful investigation and
estimating the probable expenses of
this work, you come to the conclusion
that this tax will not be sufficient, I
think you will find no objection on
the part of the wild land owners to
having it increased.
l have one more suggestion to make
in regard to the administration of the
forestry department of the State, and
this particularly with reference to our
forest fires. In addition to the For
estry Commissioner, and those who
advise and assist him In the exeeu-
ton of the duties of his Office, would
like to see a forestry board estabr
lished, composed of four men who are
largely interested in the forest lands
on the four principal rivers of the
State, the ST John. Penobscot. Ken
nebec, and Androscoggin. From my
experience l am sure that such
board would be of Invaluable assis-
lance to the Forestry Commissioner
in the selection of wardens and dep
uty wardens to take charge of the
practical work of the protection and
preservation of the forests against
fire in the different localities where
the forests are located. This princi-
pie has already been recognized by
the forestry commissioners asking
advice of such men annually in the
selection of the wardens and deputy
wardens in the different parts of the
State. It is not necessary that such
a board be paid large salaries. or even
any salaries. There are plenty of
men who are willing to give their
time for such work, and their per-
sonal interests would compel them to
give the best advice and assistance
upon the subject that it is possible to
obtain. Their expenses might be
betrayed from the forestry fund of the
State. The powers of such board
should be advisory to the forest com
missioner. / give you this suggestion
for what it is worth. A slight amend
ment to our forestry law would bring
it about.
Primary Election Law and Corrupt
n5!,tbke 4 Practices Act.
NJ Probably no legislation in the his
tory of the State re-affirms the origi-
nal declaration made in our Constitn-
ton that all power is inherent in the
people" more powerfully than does
our primary election law and the cor
rupt practices act, which the primary
election law has brought into SO much
prominence in the last year. These
two statutes must work together and
Continued on Page Seven.)