The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1922-01-26
Proposed forestry
Bill Is Opposed
WOULD CREATE NEW DEPART.
MENT WITH UNLIMITED
POWERS.
Would Create Ferestry Commission
Measure, II Passed, II IL Said, Would
Cripple industry and Hit the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to
Pass Bill. .

Jackson, Miss.--Wfdespreaa s0nti.
ment in opposition to . proposed Mis.
sissippi state forestry bill. introduced
Ut the present session Of the Mississippi
legislature, has developed with ineyeas.
ing strength recently among all classes
of Mississippi citizens. farmers. mer-
chants, workmen, builders, lumbermen
and others, owing to the numerous OBJ
jectionable features OF the bill which
are considered highly detrimental to
the welfare of the state generally as
we'll as working serious hardship upon
individual citizens, farmers, industries
and businesses.
which is arousing most vigorous con
domination OF the proposed act by ci.i-
xens OF all classes. Is the creation Of a
new state department, to be known
az the State Board OF Forestry and
which commission would be given such
broad powers and privileges as to make
1t at once one OF the most potentially
powerful Political machines that ever
has been foistsd upon the people Of
any state, in the opinion Of those who
have studied the measure.
Throughout Mississippi in the last
few years there has been q widely ey-
pressed and vibrant clamcr against
creating new state departments and
adding heavier expenses to be bcraa
by the already heavily burdened tax
payers. But these are some OF the
things that would be accomplished TN
der the proposed new forestry act.
The proposed bill would create a big
state forestry commission with virtual
ly unlimited power. The commission
would have authority TO select the
chief administrators Of tia act, the
State Forester, his assistants and en-
pioyes. or forestry "wardens,' who
could be appointed without any limit as
to number, needs or qualifications
other than the desires, whims and pur-
poses OF the forestry board. Also the
commission would have sole and un-
disputed power to fix the salaries and
expenses. allowances OF the officials
and employees in tho forestry depart
ment. These officials and employees
could be removed only for cause and
would be virtually perpetual body, or
machine"
Under the pEoposed act, the forestry
commission is given Legislative powers
as well as administrative, 1t being spc-
officially stated that ''the rules and reg
ulatioaS OF the commission shall have
the force and effect OF law after the
expiration OF 60 days. unless 1t can be
shown that an emergency exists BY
which the public interest is seriously
endangered, when the specific rule OF
regulation involved shall, by public no
tice, be made Immediately effective.
The forsstry commission would no.
be amenable evsa to the state courts
with respect to its orders, rules or
regulations, however unjust or burden.
some the commissions orders might
be. The courts may only "suspc1d the
operation OF any order or regulation
FOR such time, not exceeding 50 days,
as may be necessary to grant q public
hearing to any person agsrieged there
by
But after such suspension Of the er-
der, the decision Of the commission
will be final in the matter and in the
opinion OF competent lawyers, the conf
mission could impose aay Injustice OF
burden il desired without aindrance
from the courts.
The act also specifically gives to the
state forester, his assistants and war
dens,s full police powers in all matters
relating TO or connected with the fer
es.s and the scope of such grant ct
power under provisions OF the pTcpes.
cd law would be decidedly broad.
In addition to creating this forestry
commission and giving it admiAistra-
tive, legislative aud police powers and
finally OF decision in matters affect.
Ing the forests and its own orders,
n es and regulations, the act alss pro-
v.des for the lsyy1ig and collection OF
q license, or severance tax OF ten cents
per thousand feet Of stuRpaxe. On all
timber cut, said tax to be paid 80 days
after the severance. And further, the
bill would levy severance tax on
each person, corporation or ASSOCIATION
engaged in the business OF recovering
natural resources from the soil or wa
ter, including all forms OF turpcHtine
and ather forest products; minerals,
such IS oil, gas. sulphur. salt, csal and
ores; also marble, stone gravel. sand,
shells and other natural deposits,
which tax shall bs collected quarterly.
And all the money collected from
tllis extensive severance tax and aiss
all state appropriations made fer the
purposes of the forestry board, IS we'll
as all moneys derived from the sale OF
timber or other products from the
state forests and fines derived from
the penalties, shali BE turned iAts
specially created Forestry Fund, which
fund shall be haa4led and expended ~
the forestry commission without 6Hy
check or restriction.
Provisions OF the proposed tax levy.
ing severance tax upon all materials
entering into building construction
are considered highly detrimental to
efforts that are being made Throughout.
state OF Mississippi to relieve the
ling shortage q we'll as . blow
,st workers, wage-earner~ aRG rer,
~ rsodarSfa u1cxxS III the Gtaif