The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-03
FORESTRY LAW
 FORWARD STEP
Raul Tells Savannah Gathering Benefits Of New Ala
 bama Statute

and chairman of the forestry commit tee of the Southern Pine association. addressed the Southern Forestry con- gress in Savannah. Ga, last week and explained Alabama's new forestry laW. Pointing out that the new lesislltioA was very constructive in it's nature, ks said ~
 Your invitation to the new Forestry commission of Alabama to address yOa indicates a desire for information con earning our views of the part that thk states should play iu connection wit6 southern forestry. Perhaps this .caA be answered best by giving you brief analysis Of what we deem the principal features of our bill, these having besA designed with view to meeting, in the most effective way possible, conditions existing in Alabama and the other southern pine states and with view to making possible the most effective cooperation on the part of the stAtea. The bill. As it stands. we believe tA have been the best bill for the statA~ef l Alabama that probably could have been put through the legislature at the time. It represents as definite step forward as it was possible to provide for at present in view of economic. financial and political conditions. It's provs. sions. analysed in the light of the req. soning behind each, may be set fortA as follows:
 1. The Commission
 ta) Lumberman and farmer member ship guarantees coordination with the requirements Of the two principal in dustries interested in forestry.
 (b) Governor on the commission as chairman properly recognizes the exec utive authority of the state as ( dehr nite influence upon administrative pol icies.
 (c) Method of filling vacancies pre- cludes sudden or ill.advised changes e policy.
 T. Auxiliary State Fsrests r-s
 ta) Provisions furnish a means of protecting young forests against rs- pressive annual taxation before mar ketable value is attained. 1 (b) Privilege tax guarantees payment to state and the local communities of taxes justly due.
 (c) Provisions of section guaran- tee actual forestry use of land, ineiud ing reasonable degree of protection bt the owner.
 | fd) Withdrawal feature permits of devoting the land to agricultural or other purposes at any time it is found to be of greater value for such puf- poses. 1a-
 
 ta) Section Z permits of the estab- fishing of An efficient fire protective system unhampered by detailed statu- tory Limitations AS to means and methods.
 (b) Section 12 definitely prohibits unauthorized burnings and prescfibes necessary precautions in the case of legal burnings.
 1 (c) Section 14 links the protection work with the local communities with out incurring the danger of divided au- thority and responsibility. seA
 {. Revenue
 (a) The bill requires the levying of no new taxes for initiating the work, occupation and license taxes being al- ready in effect.
 <. Commitmsmt 9af
 (a) Section 6 contains . dehnits and unequivocal declaration of the statks responsibility in forestry. Alabama's policy in respect to for cstry is taken care of in provisions thst may be briefly explained as folIowss Educational Wsfk
 (a) The general public to Do iM- formed as quickly as possible by. prousr publicity methods of the occasi0n for and the aims of the new law.
 (b)' Special effort to be made te make the merits of public forestry wox& clear to the residents of rural sections and among the woods dwellers. (c) Dissemination of forestry fnfoF- nation and instruction through the public schools to the fullest extent pos sible.
 2. Fire Protection l (a) To develop q cooperating 9sa- tions having to do with outdoor aefiv- 1 itfAz nf mart
 (b) To secure the cooperation of the federal government under the Weeks law. (c) To extend the protective system as rapidly as possible, to cover in time all parts of the state carrying q nsaA. terial forest fire hazard.
 .. Farm Forestry (A) To encourage farmers and eth CT small owners to take advantage of auxiliary state forest provisions. s,,
 (b) To assist and inform farmers as to methods of handling their woodlands and marketing their forest products.
 {. Lumber Industry -ss
 (a) To cooperate to the fullest ex- tent with the lumber industry with ref erence to all matters of common inter. est to numbering and forestry. Is
 We have been asked frequently why certain points were not specifically in- cluded in the bill. Our answer is that under existing conditions a more eIab- crate and detailed piece of leeislatiou could not have been enacted into law at this time, either in Alabama or in many other of the southern states, par ticularly where there are still exten- sive lumber operations. There would not have been the necessary fexibility in law carrying specific regulations to | voAPnnft nf fhA knaaaAafsl MAwASAsmu tration along practical lines. For in- more specific and severe regulations dealing with lire would have met with, determined opposition. To have as. tempted to provide for the purchase sf land by the state for forest growing purposes would have had the same re- suit. The average taxpayer in the south has not had sufficient experience to realize what these things mean.
 What States Can Dc
 Our thought as to what the southern states can do may be briefly set asA as follows; sG
 i. Make it possible for both large and small land owners to grow timber on non-agricultural lands by proper taxation methods.
 ?. Establish forestry commissions with means and authority to inAuguratA public forestry measures.
 3. Give every possible impetus to the realization of the damaging and oppressive effects of tres.
 f. Provide for the inclusion of ele- mentary forestry instruction in public schools.
 E: Cooperate to the fullest extent possible with interested organisa tions. such as the Southern Pine association