THE PASSAGE OF THE APPALACHIAN BILL 



OX THE 15th of February the long struggle for national legislation look- 

 ing to the perpetuation of the forests of the Southern Appalachian and 

 ^^hite Mountains was ended when the bill known as the Weeks, or Ap- 

 palachian bill, was passed by a vote of 58 to 9. As it had been passed by the 

 House in June of last year and was enacted by the Senate without change, it 

 only remains for it to receive the signature of President Taft to become a law. 



Between twelve and one o'clock, immediately at the close of the morning 

 hour, the bill was called up by Senator Brandegee of Connecticut, who had it 

 in charge. Senator Stone of Missouri, who had offered an amendment, with- 

 drew it. Senator Brandegee then reviewed the legislative history of this bill 

 in the Senate and the bill was read. The Senator from Connecticut made a 

 brief and admirable opening statement and answered several questions, after 

 which Senator Burton of Ohio addressed the Senate for over two hours in op- 

 position to the bill. During this time he adduced nothing new. The Senator's 

 secretary sat beside him with a ponderous array of volumes, pamphlets and 

 documents, but his arguments and citations, which were numerous, were the 

 old familiar ones which have been answered again and again. 



Senator Newlands of Nevada spoke about an hour. He explained that 

 he was in favor of the bill and desired its passage, but that his purpose in op- 

 posing it in its present form at the last session was "not to defeat the bill, but 

 to anchor it more firmly in the interstate commerce power of the Constitution, 

 and enlarge its area so as to provide a comprehensive scheme of legislation 

 that would involve the regulation of the flow of all the navigable rivers of the 

 country in aid of navigation, and accomplish that ultimate object by the stor- 

 ing of the flood waters of these rivers, including the sources of streams for 

 puri)oses of irrigation and power; by the protection of forested areas included 

 within the watersheds of such rivers and their sources, so as to prevent pre- 

 cipitate run-off and safeguard against denudation and erosion ; by the protec- 

 tion of the river banks by revetment and levees, so as to confine the rivers to 

 their channels, and thus aid in the reclamation of vast areas of swamp and 

 overflowed lands within the drainage basins of such rivers containing an 

 alluvial soil of enormous fertility and requiring only protection from flood 

 waters to insure their highest agricultural development." He further ex- 

 plained that since there seemed to be a well grounded fear that the pressing 

 of amendments at this time would endanger the passage of the bill, which he 

 did not wish to do, he should withdraw his amendment and seek to accom- 

 plish his object through a more comprehensive piece of legislation at a later 

 time. He summarized with much skill and clearness the arguments for the 

 bill and devoted considerable time to the plan of a great national waterways 

 system which is his special interest in legislation. 



Mr. Newlands' position was a matter of gratification to friends of the bill 

 because he has always been accredited a friend of progressive forestry legisla- 

 tion and it was a great disappointment to find him ranged apparently with 

 oiiponents of this bill at the last session. 



The next speaker was Senator Simmons of North Carolina, a long-time 

 supporter of the various Appalachian forest bills. He made a carefully pre- 



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