172 UNITED STATES FOREST POLICY 



The act of 1897 had authorized the secretary to sell the timber grow- 

 ing on the reserves, but had not authorized the sale of grazing privi- 

 leges. The need of such authority was soon recognized, and in 1900, 

 Secretary Hitchcock sent a bill conferring it to the Speaker of the 

 House. Lacey introduced the bill twice, but it was never reported.^® 



These attempts having failed. Chief Forester Pinchot and Secre- 

 tary of Agriculture Wilson decided that, without further legislation, 

 the act of 1897 might be construed to authorize a charge for grazing. 

 That act had provided that the Secretary of the Interior might "make 

 such rules and regulations and establish such service" as would "insure 

 the objects of such reservations, namely, to regulate their occupancy 

 and use and to preserve the forests thereon from destruction." This 

 did not specifically authorize any charge for grazing, but it did not 

 prohibit it, and, beginning January 1, 1906, a small charge was made 

 for that privilege."" This action aroused considerable opposition in 

 some sections. Meetings were held and petitions drafted, asking for 

 modifications in the rates, or, in some cases, for an entire remission of 

 the fee. The regulations were soon modified somewhat, giving settlers 

 a half rate for a certain number of cattle, but even as amended they 

 tended to arouse a hostility toward the forest reserves. There was some 

 talk about "taxation without representation," and one western publi- 

 cation even went so far as to propose secession of the western states 

 from the Union.^^ Secretary Wilson and Pinchot stood firm, however, 

 and President Roosevelt gave them his full support. 



Roosevelt doubtless made many enemies in the West by his stand 

 on this and other conservation questions, but he always held his 

 ground firmly in spite of adverse criticism. This is indicated clearly 

 by the following excerpt from a letter written to Senator Heyburn, in 

 reply to some of Heyburn's criticisms of the forest reserves: "The 

 other clippings you send relate to party matters, and strive to make 

 it appear that the forest reserve question in Idaho is a matter of polit- 

 ical importance. Now, when I can properly pay heed to political 



19 H. Doc. 598; 56 Cong. 1 sess.: H, R. 10756; 56 Cong. 1 sess.: H. R. 8329; 57 

 Cong. 1 sess. 



20 H, Doc. 6; 59 Cong. 2 sess., 278. Regarding the question of the right to make 

 this charge, see Opinions, Atty.-Gen., 25, 473; 26, 421. 



21 Forestry and Irrigation, July, 1907, 341, 342, 355. 



