Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1909 — FORESTRY BUREAU GIVEN A GRILLING [ARTICLE]

FORESTRY BUREAU GIVEN A GRILLING

Congressman Condemns Extensive Collection of Fees.

Washington, Feb. 5. The forest service, in connection with the consideration of the agricultural appropriation bill, came In for criticism by Representative Mondell, who charged that the bureau was administered with wanton extravagance. Also bitter denunciation was heaped upon the service by Representative Smith who said it was the greatest outrage that had been perpetrated upon any people. Smith charged that the forest service had illegally extorted fees from miners, stockmen, farmers and others. He spoke particularly of a case In which a fee-of 10 cents had been levied on beehives. Representative Cook expressed his approval of all that Smith had uttered, and said that Gifford Plnchot’s sole purpose was “to get Secretary Wilson’s position In the cabinet.” Representative Mann said that "for many years it had so become the custom to loot the public domain that when the government endeavors to come into its own it looks like a robber to the people of the west.”