THE SPECIAL SESSION 



One of the major points for the consideration of 

 which the special session of the legislature was called 

 was forest fire protection. For some unaccountable 

 reason the northern counties sat mum during the last 

 regular session. Still scarred with the heat of the 

 last great fire, which sufficient patrol money would 

 have certainly prevented, they did not raise a finger 

 to obtain protection from another such catastrophe. 

 Not till the session was over and the woods began 

 to dry up once more did they seem to realize their 

 danger. Then they sent down a delegation to peti- 

 tion the governor for a special session to get what 

 they might just as well have had at the regular one 

 the winter before. 



The legislature provided for these needs in a way 

 that may or may not be satisfactory according to 

 the interpretation of the law and the willingness 

 of the Relief Commission to listen to technical ad- 

 vice. Placing the authority to spend the "Relief" 

 funds for fire protection in the hands of a new board, 

 instead of the Forestry Board where it belongs, clear- 

 ly expresses the suspicion of the legislature for a non- 

 political board and is in no way complimentary to 

 either of them, but it may get the results, if it is 

 spent wisely. A back handed appropriation is better 

 than no appropriation at all. 



The people of the north are certainly slow to recog- 

 nize their friends and no wonder. Years of struggle 

 with the forest in an endeavor to hew out a farm; 

 years of experience with the ruthless, futureless work 



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