8 NATIONAL FOREST MANUAL. 





affidavit, not only to secure evidence to convict, but evidence in 

 rebuttal of the probable defense. Proceedings should be instituted 

 in a State court only after review of the case by the district assistant 

 to the Solicitor. 



During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1911, unless otherwise 



Rewards ordered, and thereafter, provided Congress shall 



make the necessary appropriation or authorize the 

 payment thereof, the Department of Agriculture will pay the follow- 

 ing rewards : 



First. Not exceeding $250 and not less than $50 for information 

 leading to the arrest and conviction of any person, in any United 

 States court, on the charge of willfully and maliciously setting on fire, 

 or causing to be set on fire, any timber, underbrush, or grass upon 

 the lands of the United States within a National Forest. 



Second. Not exceeding $100 and not less than $25 for information 

 leading to the arrest and conviction of any person, in any United 

 States court, on the charge of building a fire on lands of the United 

 States within a National Forest, in or near any forest timber or other 

 inflammable material, and leaving said fire before the same has been 

 totally extinguished. 



Third. All officers and employees of the Department of Agriculture 

 are barred from receiving reward for information leading to the arrest 

 and conviction of any person or persons committing either of the 

 above offenses. 



Fourth. The Department of Agriculture reserves the right to 

 refuse payment of any claim for reward when, in its opinion, there 

 has been collusion or improper methods have been used to secure the 

 arrest and conviction thereunder, and to allow only one reward where 

 several persons have been convicted of the same offense or where one 

 person nas been convicted of several offenses, unless the circum- 

 stances entitle the claimant to a reward on each such conviction. 



These rewards will be paid to the person or persons giving the 

 information leading to such arrests and convictions upon presenta- 

 tion to the Department of Agriculture of satisfactory documentary 

 evidence thereof, subject to the necessary appropriation, as afore- 

 said, or otherwise, as may be provided by law. 



Applications for reward, made in pursuance of this notice, should 

 be forwarded to the Forester, Washington, D. C. ; but a claim will not 

 be entertained unless presented within three months from the date 

 of conviction of an offender. 



In order that all claimants for reward may have an opportunity to 

 present their claims within the prescribed limit, the department will 

 not take action for three months from date of conviction of an 

 offender. The above is applicable to offenses committed since July 

 1, 1910. 



When a fire occurs, the most important consideration is, of course, 

 to put it out. As soon as possible thereafter, the 



Investigation ran g er m charge should make diligent inquiry into 

 its cause. He "should not content himself with con- 

 jecture, hearsay, or circumstantial evidence, but should secure affi- 

 davits from witnesses as soon as it appears probable that c. fire tres- 

 pass case will follow. If he secures convincing evi- 

 dence that the fire was incendiary, and there is reason 

 to suppose the offender will escape, he should arrest or secure a war- 



