The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-04-18
EXPLAINS FOREST
EXCHANGE BILL
CONGRESSMAN FRENCH REPLIES
TO LETTER FROM GEO. SEW
Frs REGARDING NO. ~.

a congressman Burton l.. French,
5 reply to letter from George Siever
manager of the Moscow Union Ware
J house company at this place, regard
ing the merits or dement's of tn
mooted bill II, forest land exchang
. bilD )has issued an open letter ex
: planning the purposes and history c
the bill in detail.
MI. French's reply covers the fol
lowing paragraph in Mr.. Siever's let
ter:
\ 1--WE are asking for the object o
this bill; the contents; and to who's
interest and benefit considered VIII.
you sponsored same; and after pas
sing both houses, why you favor ;
veto by the president and a furthe
Investigation.
Mr.. French's comprehensive reply
covering every detail in connection
with the bill, from its inception, GOV
ers nine typewriter pages. The Star
Mirror, however, reproduces but q
brief summary:
Why Sponsored by French
Dear Mr.. Sievers
81 am more than glad to have your
letter of the 18th instant referring tc
H. R. II (Forest Exchange Bid, and
am glad to reply fully and answer
your several questions
after the bill had been passed by
the congress, such widespread oppo-
sition developed, and doubts and fears
as to the results sought to be accom-
plished, that the Idaho delegation
asked President Harding to veto the
bill so that every feature Of the ones
ton could be considered to the fullest
extent, should legislation be desired.
''The members of the Idaho delega-
ton had conferred on the bill repeat
eddy and were unanimously of the
opinion that the legislation was of the
greatest benefit to the state at the
time it passed the house and later the
senate. But we may have made mis-
takes, Ct have made lots of them in
my life), and we feel that no new bill
should be introduced or plan contem-
plated until the people of the counties
chiefly concerned and Of the state it
self shall be agreed upon a policy to
be pursued.
So if a mistake occurred in II, all /
can say is, We must not make another.
1.-THE forest exchange measure was
first brought to my attention by let
tiers and resolutions from the Bene
wah County Farm Bureau December
80, 1919 and through personal talks
from citizens of Benewah, Clearwater
and Idaho counties, and by officers of
the agriculture and interior depart
ments.
THE bill l first introduced January
r. 1920 was introduced upon tho re-
quest of some or all Of the foregoing
parties and was sent me by the Bene-
wah County Farm Bureau, though l
understood it was prepared by Off
GERS of the departments.
Purposes of the Bill
The purposes of the bill were:
First purpose. to relieve the
above counties by unlocking about
one-half million acres Of private lands
that are checker-boarded throughout
or near the Selway, Clearwater and
st. Joe National forests, and make
them bear their share Of county and
state tax burdens.
These private lands are owned |
largely by the Northern Pacific kall- |
road company and by lumber COM
oanies under grants made or by scrip |
)r purchase many years ago.
For the most post, the lands nave
10 settlers upon them. If they could
)e exchanged for lands measured by
yalues, not acres, on the outskirts OF
he reserves, near present settlements,
,ther settlements would spring up,
several thousand people could find
ZONES and the counties above refer
ed to would be immensely benefited,
nd to this extent the Forest Reserves
would be reduced.
Second purpose: to permit the
tate of Idaho to exchange state
chool lands for lands that could be
administered better by the state.
"The state has in trust more than
ne-half million acres of land check
throughout the reserves.
for the state to make
satisfactory changes are being lessen
i every year.
"Third purpose: to consolidate the
ational forest land for better admin
tration and fire protection. urged
' Forest Service)."
Congressman French then covers
detail the contents of the bill, with
lie objections and a logical reply TO
.ch objection, which is, however, too
ng for publication.
low Shall the Problem Be Solved
with the veto of the bill, we are
rown back to the point of beginning.
he private and state lands are still
cked in the National Forests.
various suggestions have come to
e touching solution of the problem
which the following are the most h
lportant:
L. That the plan of Bill II would Il
desirable provided the part refer
lg to possibility of exchange OF Il
nds outside of the Reserves be elm \
ated. K
That lands in any national forest Il
Idaho be exchanged for private L
ads within the three forests men K
ned and no lands outside reserves IL
exchanged. X
49, That should any lands outside {
reserves be exchanged they be lie
scribed in the bill and advertised u
ally, so objection could be made. Is
other possible solutions are doubt
s being debated. IE
Some fifty years ago, grants were lie
- - o. 10 |