Show I OREST FOREST F RESERVE S ABUSES About th sharpest controversy of the week In congress has raged about the administration of ot the forest re reserves reServes reserves serves by Mr Ir Pinchot and his branch of the government Mr Mondell of Wyoming has led the attack and the defense has been furnished by mem members members members bers of the committee on agriculture who as might be expected come come froth from states In which there are no forests and no reserves Here In the heart of oC the reserves where the workings of the system s are In dally daily view the administration Is seen In all its beauty Conceding the advantage of ot systematic forest con conservation conservation conservation admiring the purpose for Jor which the reserve system is designed the arbitrary powers given and exer exercised exercised exercised by Mr Ir Pinchot and his associates associates associates I ates seem the least bit incongruous in ina Ina Ina a republican form of government In the first place the area of the re reserves reserves reserves serves was was designated by executive order When congress which Is sup supposed supposed supposed posed to be the th depositary of representative authority sought to restrain the extension of reserves the president president president dent the leaders of congress and proclaimed reservations over practically all aU the remaining tim timber timber ber betS lands and a good deal of ot land that never nevet knew timber Umber It was smooth work and In essence an executive defiance of the legislative branch of ot government In te t e Den Denver Denver Denver ver convention a gathering of private citizens for the discussion of ot public policies the delegates found them themselves themselves selves outnumbered and outvoted by bya a packed body of ot forest reserve em and the friends they the had or organized organized for tor offense and defense in the gathering They lad had their expenses paid by the government and utilized their opportunity to suppress the ex expression expression expression of oC real opinion by men whose interests were vitally tally affected ed by b the departments action Under Tinder the present regime the dis disposal disposal disposal of grazing privileges is not a am matter m of oC individual right but a ques question question question tion of political pull or private favor favorIt If It It Is carried to t its logical conclusion the forest service can be made a most efficient political machine having large special privileges to confer canCer on Its friends and heavy h avy punishment for Cor Its enemies or opponents It possesses a power that should be conferred on onno onno onno no body of public unrestrained unrestrained unrestrained strained by publicity and undeterred by fear of accountability to the th pub lie To that extent it is obnoxious undemocratic a menace to the proper administration of a public trust |