Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1922-01-19
Proposed Forestry
Bill Is Opposed
/ WOULD CREATE NEW DEPART
MENT WITH UNLIMITED
POWERS.
Would Create Forestry Commissions
Measure, If Passed, u 10 Said, Would
Cripple Industry and Hit the
Acknowledgements to
Pass Bill.

Acknowledgements to
Pass Bill.
Jackson, Miss.--W Widespread senti-
nent in opposition to q proposed Mis-
sissippi state forestry bill, introduced
1t the present session OF the Mississippi
legislature, has developed with increas.
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
che welfare of the state generally -
well as working serious hardship upon
Individual citizens. farmers, industries
and businesses
One important feature Of the bill,
which is arousing most vigorous con-
domination Of the proposed act by ci.i-
gems of all classes, is the creation Of .
new state department, to be known
as the State Board of Forestry and
which commission would be given such
broad powers and privileges az 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 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 a big
state forestry commission with virtual.
lily unlimited powers. The commission
would have authority to select the
chief administrator of the act, the
State Forester, his assistants and en-
ployes, or forestry "wardens," who
sould be appointed without any limit AZ
10 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
md 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 well as administrative, it being spe-
officially stated that 1.-The rules and reg
ulations of the commission" shall have
the force and effect OF law after the
expiration of 60 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
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 go days,
as may be necessary to grant a ppblic
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 OF
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 grant OF
power under provisions of the propos-
Cd 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 its own orders,
rules and regulations, the act also pro-
vides for the levynig and collection OF
= license, or severance tax of ten cents
per thousand feet Of stumpage,s on all
timber cut said tar to be paid 80 days
after the severance. And further, the
bill would levy a severance tax on
bach 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 al the money collected from
this extensive severance tax and also
ali state appropriations made for the
purposes Of the forestry board, as weR
IS all moneys derived from the sale Of
timber or other products from the
state forests and fines derived FROM
tile penalties, shall be turned into a
specially created Forestry Fund, which
fund shall be handled and expended BY
the forestry commission without any
.f~esz.f