The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-01-11

as the SLaLe board OF FOreStry anu
which commission would be given such
broad powers and privileges as to make
it at once one Of the most potentially
powerful political machines that ever
has been foisted 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 a widely ex-
pressed and vibrant clamor against
creating new state departments and
adding heavier expenses to be borne
by the already heavily burdened tax
payers. But these are some of the
things that would be accomplished un.
der the proposed new forestry act.
The proposed bill would create big
state forestry commission with virtual
ly unlimited powers. The commission
would have authority to select the
chief administrator of the 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 the forestry depart.
ment. These officials and employees
could be removed only for cause and
would be virtually perpetual body, or
machine"
Under the proposed act, the forestry
commission is given legislative powers
as we'll as administrative, it being spe-
officially stated that "the rules and reg
ulations Of the commission" shall have
the force and effect Of law after the
expiration of go days, unless it can be
shown that an emergency exists by
which the public interest Is seriously
endangered, when the specific rule or
regulation involved shall, by public no
tice, be made Immediately effective.
The forsetry commission would no.
be amenable even 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 suspend the
operation Of any order or regulation
for such. time, not exceeding 60 days,
as may be necessary to grant a public
hearing to any person aggrieved there.
by"
But after such suspension of the or.
der, the decision Of the commission
will be final in the matter and in the
opinion of competent lawyers, the com.
mission could impose any injustice or
burden it desired without hindrance
from the courts.
The act also specifically gives to the
state forester, his assistants and war
dens," full police powers in all matters
relating to or connected with the for
ests and the scope of such a grant of
power under provisions of the propos
ed law would be decidedly broad
In addition to creating this forestry
commission and giving it administra-
tive, legislative and police powers and
finality of decision in matters affect
ing the forests and it's own orders,
rules and regulations, the act also pro-
vides for the levynig and collection of
a license, or severance tax of ten cents
per thousand feet Of stumpage, ON all
timber cut, said tax to be paid 80 days
after the severance. And further, the
bill would levy a 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 turpentine
and other forest products; minerals,
such as oil, gas, sulphur, salt, coal and
ores; also marble, stone, gravel, sand,
shells and other natural deposits"
which tax shall be collected quarterly.
And all the money collected from
this extensive severance tax and also
all state appropriations made for the
purposes of the forestry board, as well
40 all moneys derived from the sale Of
timber or other products from the
state forests and fines derived from
the penalties, shall be turned into a
specially created Forestry Fund, which
fund shall be handled and expended by
the forestry commission without any
check or restriction.
Provisions of the proposed tax levy
ing a severance tax upon all materials
entering into building construction
are considered highly detrimental to
efforts that ere being made throughout
the state of Mississippi to relieve the
housing shortage os we'll as a blow
against workers, wage-earners and per-
sons OF moderate means in the state
rne bill would place severance taxes
on lumber, stone, gravel, shells, CO.
ment, sand and various other mate
rials necessary In nome building and,
Of course, such taxes would likely be
handed on down to the consumer in
increased prices for such materials.
The act also, it is declared, would
cripple business and industry in the
state. Prominent lumbermen have as
serted that if certain provisions of the
bill were enacted into law it would
result in the probable temporary clos
ing down of many sawmills in Missis-
sippi, throwing hundreds of men out
of employment until readjustments In
their business could be made. The
provisions Of the bill with respect to
requirements on the part Of lumber
men for protection against forest fires,
reforestation, cutting of timber, for.
bidding use of skidders and other
means and methods used in the best
accepted standards Of numbering
throughout the country, it is said,
would make it impossible for the saw.
mills to operate.
Some Of the requirements demanded
In numbering are specifically set forth
in the bill and are considered unus-
ually drastic, but the entire control Of
that industry under the proposed bill
would be placed absolutely at the dis
cretion, whims or motives OF the for.
lGtEx commission End it, Officials and