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research, tree planting, and other cooperative measures to promote better use of 

 privately owned forest lands. I believe such investments should be further in 

 creased, because it is to the public s interest that the forests bo protected and 

 maintained. The public, however, must be assured that such investments will not 

 be wasted by unrestricted misuse of the lands involved. 



The measures I have introduced set up no restriction on free private enter 

 prise other than those minimum requirements necessary to protect public interests. 

 These requirements include precautions against fire, insects, and disease, and 

 prescribe certain cutting practices which will leave the land in reasonably pro 

 ductive condition. The philosophy behind these measures is the same as that which 

 has led to zoning laws, sanitary laws, or speed laws on the highways to set up 

 rules of practice that safeguard public interests and promote the general welfare. 



Under tne terms of the bill providing for optional state action (H.R. 3850) 

 the several states would be given an opportunity to set up and apply forest regu 

 lation. The Federal government would contribute to the cost on a 50-50 basis. 

 To assure equitable, nation-wide regulation, the bill further provides: 



1. That State legislation and standards of enforcement must be satisfactory 

 to the federal government. 



2. That the federal government is authorized to administer enforcement if 

 roouested bv any state to do so, or if a state does not undertake it or does not 

 attain satisfactory standards. 



3. That federal financial assistance in regulation shall be withdrawn if 

 state enforcement proves unsatisfactory, and that other federal forest cooperative 

 funds may be wituaela from any state which, after the formative period, does not 

 satisfactorily cooperate or administer forest regulation. 



The other bill (H.R. 3849) provides that direct authority of and administrative 

 action by the federal government shall be exercised by and through the Secretary 

 of Agriculture. 



