274: MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The history of all the countries of Europe shows that deforestation 

 has been followed by epidemics, pests and drouths and other calam- 

 ities. We have the means within our power to prevent such things. 

 and we ought to utilize them. This is an important question and 

 well worthy our consideration, the consideration of everj- individual 

 here. I hope these resolutions will be passed, not only passed but 

 lived up to. It is an eas}' thing to pass resolutions; we must, by 

 presistent and intelligent work in the caucuses, live up to those 

 resolutions: get in our work before election, and then we will get 

 our committee before the legislature next winter and get our bill 

 passed. 



Mr. P. H. Rahillj': Mr. President. I am not a member of 

 your organization, but I would like, Mr. President, with your 

 permission, to ask the gentleman who just preceded me a 

 question, as I understood him to say he was the framer of a 

 bill before our legislature and that the committee refused to 

 report upon it. It seems to me that the duty of the framer of 

 the bill was to offer the bill itself as a substitute in the house 

 for the report of the committees. If the bill, as I understand, 

 was nearer discussed before the respective houses — 



C. L. Smith: If the gentleman will pardon me. I wish to in- 

 form him that I was not a member of the legislature, as he 

 evidently .inferred from what I said. I was simply acting as 

 such committee man in the interests of forestry and framed 

 the bill and gave it to a member of the legislature who was 

 acting as chairman. I was not a member of the legislature, 

 and I could not have done that. 



Mr. Rahilly: I accept the gentleman's explanation. But some- 

 body had to father the bill, as I understand it. Now, the duty 

 of the gentleman who fathered the bill was to offer that bill as 

 a substitute for the report. Then the bill could be discussed 

 in open session, and an opportunity would then be given to 

 know who favored it and who did not. If there was nothing of 

 that kind, they would not know anything about the friends or 

 enemies of the bill. That, it seems to me, is a matter of vital 

 importance. It seems to me something should have been 

 tacked onto the bill to have these men who have charge of it 

 explain or defend their position. 



Pi-esident J. M. Underwood: Ladies and gentlemen, as I 

 understand it, these resolutions contemplate appointing a com- 

 mittee who will take the matter in charge and frame a bill and 

 present it at the next legislature without any mistakes, that 

 we may succeed in carrying out the sentiments we are endorsing 

 here today. Is there anything further to be said upon these 

 resolutions? 



