No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 309 



benefits to be derived from a system less burdensome than that 

 now in vogue have been pointed out by the State Forester many 

 times in his annual reports. His Excellency Governor Foss, in 

 a special message, urged upon the Legislature of 1911 the impor- 

 tance of giving this question prompt and serious consideration. 

 He recommended a constitutional amendment which would enable 

 the General Court to enact such legislation relative to the methods 

 of taxing wild or forest lands as will serve best to encourage the 

 development of forestry in the Commonwealth. The following 

 resolve, based upon the Governor's message, was passed by both 

 branches of the Legislature : — 



Resolve to provide for an Amendment of the Constitution relative 

 TO THE Taxation of Wild or Forest Lands. 



Resolved, That it is expedient to alter the constitution of the common- 

 wealth by the adoption of the subjoined article of amendment; and that 

 the said article, being agreed to by a majority of the senators and two 

 thirds of the members of the house of representatives present and voting 

 thereon, be entered on the journals of both houses, with the yeas and nays 

 taken thereon, and be referred to the general court next to be chosen; and 

 that the said article be published, to the end that if agreed to in the manner 

 provided by the constitution, by the general court next to be chosen, it 

 may be submitted to the people for their approval and ratification, in order 

 that it may become a part of the constitution of the commonwealth. 



article of amendment. 



Full power and authority are hereby given and granted to the general 

 court to prescribe for wild or forest lands such methods of taxation as will 

 develop and conserve the forest resources of the commonwealth. 



Senate, July 6, 1911. 



The foregoing article of amendment is agreed to, a majority of the sena- 

 tors present and voting thereon having voted in the affirmative; and the 

 same is referred to the general court next to be chosen. 



Allen T. Treadway, President. 



House of Representatives, July 13, 1911. 



The foregoing article of amendment is agreed to, two thirds of the 

 members of the house of representatives present and voting thereon hav- 

 ing voted in the affirmative; and the same is referred in concurrence to 

 the general court next to be chosen. 



Joseph Walker, Speaker. 



