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Show FORESTRY SERVICE I II1ERJ0I FIRE I Mondell of Wyoming and Tay-lor Tay-lor of Colorado Severest Critics of Administration. WYOMING CONGRESSMAN I CHARGES EXTRAVAGANCE Fight Appears to Be Losing H One, as the Appropriations Are Not Reduced. WASHINGTON, Feb. 1. A runninc fire of criticism was poured into the forestry service in the house today while the agricultural appropriation bill was under consideration. Tho ,exitiro sos-sion sos-sion was devoted to the 'forestry sched-ule. sched-ule. Representatives idendell of "Wyo-mine "Wyo-mine and Taylor of Colorado were the chief critics of the bureau of forestry, which found nianv defenders in tho IH house. Mr. Mondnjl. roplyinc to an in- IH quiry by Rcpresenlattvc "Mann of UH nois as to why the national forests could not be made profitable now. iC ever, said the reason was found in the "scandalous extravagance" that, char-actcrized char-actcrized the conduct of the forestry service. ranch Money Wasted. Much of its money, he said.' was spent, for objects in no way related 10 the out ting of timber or to the pro-lection pro-lection of forests from fire. Conven-tions" Conven-tions" of foresters, held 'simultaneously wirli gatherings iu which hostile, criti-cism criti-cism was likely to be voiced for tho purpose of offsetting such criticism, press bureau work, unnecessary travel-ing travel-ing expenses and the maintenance of large forces of employes in Washing-ton Washing-ton and elsewhere, were among the items of extravagance enumerated. nH However, in no instanco was an ap-propriation ap-propriation for the bureau of forestry reduced today by the hoiiEC. Cause of Attack. Mr. Mondell 's attack was precipi-tatcd precipi-tatcd by 11 statement by Mr. Mann that, if forest reservations ever were to be profitable he could not sec why tbev were npt profitable now. ''The forests are practically virgin."' said Mr. Mann, "and tho timber is as far advanced as i ever will he.'' Representative Scott of "Kausas, in charge of the bill, explained that the timber was cut at u profit., but profit was more than overcome ly the ex- jH pense of caring for the forests. "I can reply to that question." in-tcrjcctcd in-tcrjcctcd Mr. Mondell. "Tho admin'?-tration admin'?-tration of tho forost service is so scandalously extravagant that it would bo impossible to pay the expenses from the revenue from cuttiug the timber." Corporations Cut Figure. Tn response fo questions, Mr. Mondell said that in his state timber wns cut iu the national forests only by the great. lumber corporations. These men paid $6 for stumpage. he declared, when stumpage on private tracts was only $1.50, but they did not complain be-cause be-cause they enjoyed a monopoly of such jH stumpage.' To make n good showing, he con-tinned, con-tinned, great sheep herders, made out many applications for permits, each of their employees getting a permit. Tt jH was by that method, he said, that it was made fo appear that small grazers worn accommodated in tho forest, reserves. Mr. Mondell said that, on January 7, when there was a meeting of tho Na-tional Na-tional Woolgrowcrs' association nt Oc-den, Oc-den, there was a meeting of .100 or '200 rangers and supervisors in that c.itj at BH tho same time, aud he understood that they did much to make the stay of tho woolgrowcrs in Ogdeu pleasant. TJcpresentativo Taylor of Colorado questioned Chairman. Scot I as to tho reason for including in the forest re-serve re-serve binds without timber. vM Mr. Scott said former Chief Pinchot flH had claimed that such hind could bo planted with trees. Pertinent Objection. VM "Do vou not know," declared Mr. Taylor, '"that at elevations of 7000 fee't it will take 500 years to grow a forest, aud at higher altitudes the timo fiH required will be longer?" In his own state, he claimed, laud jH worth $200 or $1100 an ncro was included in forest reserves. "Tho law provides a way for tho slate to get such land out of the resor-vation." resor-vation." replied Mr. Scott. After having had the forestry schedule under consideration for nearly fivo hours without disposing of ir, tho house laid the bill aside until tomorrow. |