Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-03-18
THOMPSON FORESTRY BILL
ROBBED OF EFFECTIVENESS.
Federal Aid Necessary to
Make Bill Effective.

CHARLESTON, w. VA. March II.
The Thompson forestry bill is now
law but it will be robbed OF much
of its effectiveness if no funds are
available under the Weeks law which
extends Federal aid to the state IN
the protection of forests when the
State provides for like amount, as
West Virginia did two years ago. pur
ing the first two years In which the
Federal aid under the Weeks law has
been available wonderful strides were
made in perfecting system OF Tor
est preservation despite inadequate
laws to make such conservation pos
sible. In the passage of the Thompson
h;j1s further strides were made in the
.vstems Of forest protection, following
considerable agitation and an awaken
ing Of the public to the necessity o.
doing something to prevent large
losses to the state through destruc.
tive forest fires, which in the pasf
have entailed such tremendous losses
on the state.
public Sentiment was so thoroughly
crystalized that the Thompson forest
nv measure encountered little OF no
onposition in either branch OF the
legislature, though it came perilously
near meeting an untimely demise IN
the Senate because it did not reach
mat BODY until late in the session. 1t
was unfortunate that companion
hin was passed without provision
for a hunters license, according 10
The patrons of the Thompson bill, as
the revenue SO derived was to be ex-
pended in forest protection. 1t was
5onblv unfortunate that the Governor
saw fit to veto in the general appro-
nronriation bill the item of $40, 900 TOR
zach wear which made Federal aid
available. Should such Federal aid
he no longer available through the
Governors veto, the new law Will
lose much of its effectiveness and
the state will lose the services OF the
t,atrol men between the various es--
tablished stations, where salaries ana
expenses are now betrayed by the
= Coyernment at Washington. 1t would
be a great pity after so nearly per-
fecting the forest preservation sys-
em. if through a veto, such system
Mould be crippled, especially when
ne amount appropriated was 50
nall. ~ ..ad
It has been especially regretted
that the Governor pruned the forest
nv item from the bill since IN his
biennial message he took sucn
strong position in favor of strength
ening and revising the forestry laws
as to provide for the fullest and
most complete system of protection
possible in order to prevent a recur-
renee of the fires which in the past
have wrought such destruction. IL
was not therefor expected that the
forest appropriation would be one OF
those to suffer
There is possibility that if sup,
elemental appropriation bill is passed
1t the special session, the forestry
item may be included, otherwise the ne
Federal aid under the Weeks law VIII
not be available. The Government
will have to abandon its part in guard
ing the forest against destruction;
Much of the work of that nature ana
q great deal of the expense has peen
horne by associations and individuals
m the state whose interest has mace
It possible to secure the enactment
of better forestry laws. They nave
not only manifested strong interest
in the proposed legislation but nave
Nv the expenditure of money helped
I'D build up chain of lookout sta
tions and system Of protectio,n
which has been generally commended.