204 



control of our forests, we Avould be doing something upon which 

 we could agree and Avork together, and thus not only control this 

 fungous disease, but do wonders to the forests of this section. 



THE CHAIRMAN: Mr. Stevens will probably be pleased to 

 learn that the Committee on Kesolutions will have something 

 of a constructive order to suggest. 



Mil. STEVENS : Then may we proceed as quickly as pos- 

 sible, so that we may discuss that? 



THE CHAIRMAN: That is the next urder on the pro- 

 gramme, and before calling for a report by the Committee on 

 Resolutions, if yon will j)erniit a word from the Chair, I will 

 beg your indulgence. A few moments ago, doubtless in a spirit 

 of fun, the word "politician" was introduced into our discus- 

 sion. Now I wish to say that 1 have made careful observations 

 — as one may of the work in one State from another State — 

 of the work tlmt is being done in the State of Pennsylvania 

 along this line. Thus far I have failed to see the first sign of 

 what might be regarded as political methods, and I claim to be 

 somewhjit expert in detecting the presence of such methods. 

 (Applause). I have inquired of two gentlemen of Pennsylvania 

 who are well posted, one of them being a member of the Chest- 

 nut Tree Bliglit Commission, as to the political faith of these 

 five men, and I have been unable to find out yet what their 

 politicjil faith is. (Applause). 



The members of the Chestnut Tree Blight Commission of 

 Pennsylvania are serving without compensation. They are 

 men of large business interests and also altruistic interests. 

 They are ghid to give their time to the subject because they 

 believe they can Iiel]) the State to solve a great problem, and, 

 so far as I liave been abb' to size up the situation in Pennsyl- 

 \ania, from tli<' ])a]»ers and the discussions which liave been 

 offered here, I should say that the Pennsylvania plan, in a word, 

 is to seek the truth and when the best course is found, then to 

 follow tliat course. What else can we consider to be the policy 

 in this State? Remember that the Legislature of Pennsylvania 

 has appropriated two hundred and seventy-five thousand dol- 

 lars, and we heard yesterday that only twenty thousand dollars 



