Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-09

commission of from three to seven men
who appoint supervisor or lofes'
manager to look after and protect tue
timberlands. In New Hampshire the
governor. with the advice of the coun
Gil began the commission by appoint
ing three men, one to hold office TOT Que
year, one for two years and one Iof
three years; but appointing their sue
cessors for terms of three years eacn.
Thus one member drops out and new
one is appointed each year. The MEM
hers of the commission serve without
pay. but have their expenses PAID.
Then these three commissioners APP
point a forester or a forest manager At
stipulated salary, to serve during the
will of the commission.
In Oregon they have State Board
of Forestry which is composed OF the
governor, representative of the 1or-
estry department of the State Agrlcul-
tural College, a representative OF the
state grange, a representative OF me
United State Forestry Service. a repre-
sentative of the Lumber Manufacture
ers' Association and a representative
of a forest fire protective association.
This state board appoints state for
ester or manager whose duties are
similar to the duties of our forest COM
missioner.
ut should be remembered that l am
not recommending that we adopt here
in Maine either one of these systems,
but simply give them as examples OF
how the thing is being done in other
r m state
preference between the systems of the
two states mentioned, I think that
would choose the New Hampshire sys-
tenn.
After comforting with many Of the
land owners I find that perhaps the
majority of them, while anxious for
change in our present methods of Sc
lection, would perfer that the forest
commissioner be independent of any
control by forest commission or for
estry board. They would not care to
have the department ruled by a num-
Der of individuals. as it would be if a
regular board or commission were
created; but would prefer that all au-
thority be vested in one man, who shall
be the forest commissioner, with the
same authority and privileges that the
office now carries.
1T has been suggested to me that
the governor, the chief justice and
three landowners might constitute
what, for lack of a better name, we
will call committee, whose duties
would simply be to select the best man
| available for the office of forest COM
| ice. ~ hn Ia
does not prove competent and select
another. In other words, their only
duty would be to keep the Office filled
by the best man they could find, and
| further than that they would have no
authority. I pass this suggestion along
! TO the reader for consideration.
while | am not able to say just how
the change should be brought about,
| heartily recommend that our present
method of selecting a forest commits
sioner be changed and that the con-
troll of our forests be placed outside the
realm of politics. 1t may prove quite
4 task to bring about this change in a
manner satisfactory to the most inter-
ested parties-the timberland owners,
but doubtless in due time we will be
able to arrive at satisfactory solution
of the problem of how to put the flu
| ture protection of our Maine forests on
a more stable basis and free from
partisan rule.
I'm the line Of forest protection
another recommendation that I would
make is that an appropriation of at
least $4,000 a year be made for a gem
eral forestry fund. At present there IS
no money which can be used for for
estry purposes outside of the Maine
Forestry District and there should be
some funds available for patrol work
and for enforcing the Slash Law out