l62 



THE FORESTER. 



July, 



Recent Legislation. 



New York. 



A victor}' for those in favor of forest 

 conservation was gained in New York 

 State in the early part of June, when 

 the Court of Appeals, in session at 

 Albany, affirmed the decision of the 

 lower courts declaring unconstitutional 

 a forest law in dispute. This law was 

 passed by the Legislature of 1894, 

 making Moose River and its tributaries 

 public highways for the floating of logs 

 and timber. W. S. de Camp, a large 

 landowner, brought the suit against 

 Lemon and Edward Thompson, lumber- 

 men, who had cut 19,000,000 feet of 

 lumber. As the decision prevents taking 

 this out, except at considerably increased 

 expense, it is believed the landowners' 

 victory will be a permanent one. 



In the new rules adopted by the New 

 York State Civil Service Commission, and 

 approved by Governor Roosevelt, the 

 offices of fire inspectors of the Forest 

 Preserve Board are transferred to the 

 "competitive class," by which appli- 

 cants are made subject to examination 

 under the classification of "skilled 

 laborers." 



Governor Roosevelt has signed a bill 

 authorizing the expenditure of $30,000 

 for Beaver Park, Albany. 



Massachusetts. 



A plan has been proposed to enlarge 

 and improve the grounds around the 

 Massachusetts State House so as to form 

 a park. The Governor, President of the 

 Senate, and Speaker of the House are 

 the committe on a proposal to defray the 

 expense by issuing $2,000,000 of four per 

 cent forty year bonds. 



The Massachusetts Legislature has 

 appropriated $200,000 this year to be 

 used in fighting the gypsy moth, which 

 is very injurious to Elm and other trees. 



The Massachusetts House has voted 

 to appropriate $600,000 for the purchase 

 by the State of Nantasket Beach and its 

 conversion into a public reservation. 



Pennsylvania. 



A bill authorizing the purchase of 

 timbered lands for State forest reserva- 

 tions whenever there are available funds 

 in the treasury for that purpose, has 

 passed the Legislature and has been 

 approved by Governor Stone. Under 

 the safeguards provided there is no 

 necessity for delay awaiting special legis- 

 lation for each instance of a new pur- 

 chase. The advantage of this provision 

 cannot well be overestimated, as it will 

 enable the State Forest Commission 

 to establish reserves without the hin- 

 derance of the customary official red tape. 



Michigan. 



The Governor of Michigan has ap- 

 proved Senate Bill No. 101, providing 

 for a permanent commission on forestry, 

 a review of which was published in the 

 June Forester. The commission ap- 

 pointed by him consists of Hon. Arthur 

 Hill, of Saginaw; Hon. Charles W. Gar- 

 field, of Grand Rapids, and Hon. Wil- 

 liam French, of Alpena, Commissioner 

 of the State Land Office, ex-officio. 



The bill which was introduced into the 

 Michigan Legislature to create the office 

 or Fire Warden, failed of enactment. It 

 was planned to model the law on the 

 lines of that enacted in Massachusetts 

 in 1894. Though encountering a set- 

 back in this defeat, the friends of the pro- 

 posed measure hope to arouse sufficient 

 public sentiment to pass the bill at the 

 next session of the legislature. 



The main provisions are that the Gov- 

 ernor shall appoint a State Fire Marshal, 

 who shall hold office for a period of two 

 years, and shall maintain an office at Lan- 

 sing, and whomay be removed for cause at 

 any time. This marshal or warden shall 

 appoint two deputies, one of whom shall 

 reside in the upper peninsula. The fire 

 chief of Detroit is also constituted a 

 deputy, as is the fire marshal or chief in 

 every city or village in the State. Super- 

 visors of townships shall also be depu- 

 ties. 



