The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1922-01-12

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cripple business and industry in the
state. Prominent lumbermen have as
serted that If certain provisions of thu
bill were enacted into law it would
result IN the probable temporary clos
ing down of many sawmills in Mlssis-
gippi 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 the bill and are considered unus-
ually drastic, but the entire control Of
that industry under the proposed bill
would be placed absolute y at The dis
cretion, whims or motives of The for
sstry commission and its officials and
wardens, and the commission could
impose whatever restrictions or rules
would be final.
Seriously gripping the operations Of
sawmil.s, leading merchants argue,
would inevitably result in putting
10 NJ In M
communities out of business, as we'll
as throwing thousands of wage-earners
in the mills out of work, possibly caus-
ing abandonment of numerous small
communities now thriving because OF
the lumber industry. In this day of
widespread unemployment such con
tingency should give the people serious
concern.
Still more far-reaching in its effects.
according to those who have examined
the measure, the bill would work a
hardship upon and bring increased ex-
pense to thousands of farmers through
out Mississippi who own small private
groves Of trees or wood lots, because
the requirements as to providing for
ext fire patrols, burning off land keep
ing up hogs, etc, and restrictions as
to cutting, clearing away the debris Of
trees and other things would apply to
all private owners of trees or groves.
Many small farmer might be re-
quired, under the act, to hire fire pa
troll for his grove 81 trees out of sight
of his home.
Heavy expense would be entailed
upon all railroads by the bill, both
common carriers and private logging
roads being affected and in addition
the act would mako it possible for the
forestry commission and its wardens
to institute system of petty annoy
ance and harassment upon great
proportion of the citizens of the state
that would lead to a deplorable condi-
tion of affairs.
few years ago there was a pro-
posal to create in Mississippi State
Fish and Game Commission with
flock of fish and game wardens to
"snoop" about and annoy people. The
voice of the voters was raised so loud
and strong against that fish and game
commission bill, however, that 1t was
promptly killed, for the taxpayers and
citizens Of Mississippi would have
none Of it. The forestry bill now I'M
der consideration is declared to be
piece of the same sort of legislation
opening the way for the building up
of permanent and tremendously pow
erful machine to control state affairs
by small clique and to harass and
annoy reputable, law-abiding citizens
in the legitimate pursuit Of their busl-
ness. Judging from the growing sem
timent recently manifested against the
proposed forestry bill it, too, will be
relegated to the tall timber"
Regarding forestry legislation by
any Of the states at this time, It is
pointed out both in Mississippi and
other states, that however desirable
such legislation may be, this is not the
oportune time for the states to act for
most excellent reasons. There are
now pending before the national House
| and Senate in Washington, number
of national forestry bills, an important
| feature of all of which is provision
FOR extending federal aid, through fed
| eral funds, to the various states in the
matter of protection and reproduction
| Of forests. The principle in this pend
| ing national forest legislation will
respect to federal aid is identical with
that embodied in the federal aid to the
states in constructing good roads.
Hearings are to be held in Washing
on before congressional committees OF
lational forestry legislation beginning
anuary 8, when it is hoped a measure
satisfactory to all interests will be
,volved for enactment. In order Il
hare In the benefits of federal aid fol
orestry and get its proportion of fed
raj money, each state will be obliged
/ o enact laws conforming to the ma
ional forestry act.
At the present session of the Missis
ippi legis allure this cannot be don,
I'D persons we'll informed on the sub
,ect contend that Mississippi legisla
3rs should not take up the valuable
me of this session and spend large
mount OF the peoples money useless
in discussion an enactment of for
stry laws which most probably viii
ave to be repealed at the next session
4 order to conform to the require
i rents of the forthcoming national acI
leIYing federal aid to the states.
/ For these reasons many Influential
ftizens OF Mississippi as well as man,
i I the rank and file of taxpayers, be
eve forestry legislation by the STATE
| tsthis session is out of order and tina
o tike up the legislatures time nov
18th such matters would be an absurd
taste OF time, effort and money s
ably needed for other and useful pnr
oses. At any rate, it Is believed tn.
eople of. Mississippi certainly woul
OF permit enrichment of the prouase