244 AGRICULTURAL APPROPRL\T10X BILL, 1924. 



We now have one-quarter of the merchantable timber of the coun- 

 try in tlie national forces. We could cut timber to the extent of 

 $18,000, 000 a year at present stumpage rates, were the forests acces- 

 sible. The opening up of tlu'sc regions, through the construction of 

 roads, is going to enable more and more of our timber resources to be 

 used and to be used in a rational and intelligent way. ,It is going to 

 enable the timber cut to be more properly distributed rather than 

 concentrated at a fcAv points where there is some special industrial 

 development. Road building is a very important factor in the full 

 development of these national properties to serve all the purposes 

 for which thev were established. 



That is all 1 have to say. I ask the committee to provide for con- 

 tiiuiiiig this work on a reasonable basis, because it is the steady, 

 unbroken pull that counts on a job of this character. 



OTHER APPROPRIATIONS AVAILABLE. 



Mr. Ander.sox. Are there any appropriations made in other acts 

 which mature this year? 



Colonel Greeley. The act of 1916 carries an appropriation of 

 SI, 000, 000 yearly up to and including the fiscal year 192G. Under 

 that act an appropriation of .SI, 000, 000 becomes available July 1, 

 1924. That is the only continuing appropriation, with the exception 

 of the 10 per cent of gross receipts which I spoke of and which is 

 largely absorbed in mamtenance. 



Mr. MA(iEE. You are authorized to expend $6,500,000 < 



Colonel Greeley. The appropriation has been authorized but not 

 made. 



Mr. Ma(;ee. Is that a continuing appropriation ? 



Colonel Greeley. That was authorized for two specific years. 



Mr. Magee. If we appropriate $3,000,000 this year what becomes 

 of the balance ? 



Colonel Greeley. Well, it is simply unappropriated. W^hether it 

 remains authorized for appropriation or not I do not know. 



Mr. Magee. That is what I was getting at. 



Colonel Greeley. That is a tedinical ([uestion I would not attempt 

 to answer. 



Mr. Anderson. I do not believe it continues. 



Mr. Ju.MP. If that is true, I think the Budget Bureau, in passing 

 on these it<'ms, <h(l not have it in mind. We received the distinct 

 impression, in our (h-alings with the Budget Bureau, that they hail 

 in mind, in recommending to Congress that merely a portion of these 

 atithorizati(»ns be appro|)riated, that the balance could be recom- 

 mciKh'd, through tht? bureau, of course, and if passed, tiieu appro- 

 |)riiilt(l by Congress, as it saw lit, under the existing authorizations, 

 when tlic rate of cash withdrawals from the Treasury made that 

 ncccssai'v. 



Mr. Ani)KI{s<)\. 1 (h) not see how that conclusion can be arrivetl 

 at under the language of the authoiization. 



Mr. .liMi". That (juestion will become much more serious wiien we 

 get to the next il«'Mi that is. so far as volume is concerned because 

 there, of the S(i.'),()(n),()Ol) authorized for I'.lJJ. S.i.l.OOO.OOO is deferre<l. 



Mr. Anderson. But you have some achiitional language there, 

 which, as I recall, authorizes you to make contracts? 



Mr. .IiMi'. It did (luring l\)'2;i and it is in here for 192 I; that is true. 



