Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1917-02-02
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1917.
THE FORESTRY BILL.

THE FORESTRY BILL.
The move to make the State Forester
a deputy Of the Commissioner of Agrl-
culture is an example Of the old proverb
of tipping over the milk pail. Under
the late Fletcher ID. Proctor Vermont
started out on broad and enlightened
policy of forestry. Public interest was
aroused to a remarkable degree, OF
which Joseph BattelPs gift to the State
and to Middebury College was perhaps
the most notable illustration, Vermont
has been held up as an example OF
progressive State forestry throughout
the country. Forest plantations are
standing all over the State and timber
owners have learned that scientific
forestry is in their own interest.
Andnow we are tipping over the pail.
We shall not get as good a forester to
serve as a deputy as can be had in an
independent position. We are throwing
away all the advantage of the title,
which costs us nothing but which is of
great help in getting good man.
The case is well put by the American
Forestry association, as follows
1.-THE consolidation of Agriculture and
Forestry as proposed in Vermont is not
truly an economic measure. The Amer
lean Forestry association has Ia, OOO
members scattered throughout the
country, who are vitality interested in
advancement Of forestry. A blow to
the work in one State, especially one
which has been considered so advanced
as Vermont, is felt deeply by all.
ION a casual perusal of House Bill
80 the evils of it may not be apparent.
The power and duties of the State
Forester are described at length, but
when one studies it carefully he finds
that the Commissioner Of Agriculture,
a man who presumably knows nothing
of forestry, is to be the State forester
The bill says that the Commissioner
may appoint technically trained
forester as deputy. He may appoint
other assistants, and it naturally oc'
ours to one acquainted with Legislative
matters that the bill may be drawn il
the interests of someone looking fol
this position, who is not a technically
trained forester. 1t should at least
say: 1.-The Commissioner shall APP
point a technically trained forester as
deputy. "
Even under such law we can i'm
agine Vermont will have difficulty in get
ting as efficient forester as it could il
forestry were maintained coordinate
with Agriculture. There are two thing.
in which every forester is more in
terested than salary, although of course
he has to have living wage. He wants
a position which offers some per
manency. Nothing can be- accomplished
in forestry in two years; very little il
four years. The forester wants, frs
of all, results, and these take time
Secondly, he wants an opportunity tt
develop his own policy,
"The Commissioner of Agriculture il
Vermont is appointed by the Governor
and the Governor is changed every two
years. There is no civil service, hence
forestry deputy may be dismissed i
he gains the dislike of either GovernoI
or Commissioner. A first class forester
will be wary about leaving a position il
the Government or elsewhere to TAKE
such precarious post.
"a forester working under a Com
missioner of Agriculture, would fine
himself controlled by a superior whose
interests of necessity divided between
several lines of work. If he is Indifferent
to forestry there is no appeal. Paralysi!
of initiative follows, and the foreste
becomes discouraged and either sink
to the position of routine clerk, or re
signs to be replaced by some less abb,
and enterprising man.
"The two points above mentioned
will be carefully considered by an.
forester before he accepts the position
Of deputy under Commissioner o
Agriculture. As intimated above Their
may not be any intention under this bill
of employing a technically traine,
forester.