THE UNRESERVED TIMBER LAND 241 



greatly reducing the number of applications, indicates that settlers 

 were not the main beneficiaries under the free timber acts. 



The Permit Act of 1891 had not been in operation a year before 

 certain members of Congress undertook to extend its provisions to 

 other states, and in April, 1892, Delegate Smith of Arizona brought 

 in a bill to extend the provisions of the act to Arizona and New Mex- 

 ico/" This bill was favorably reported in the House, passed both 

 houses without a word of opposition, and was signed by President 

 Harrison. ^^ In the next year, Senator Squire of Washington intro- 

 duced a bill extending the Free Timber Act to eastern Oregon, but it 

 was not reported.^® In 1894, Representative Houk of Tennessee intro- 

 duced another free timber act, applying to the entire public domain, 

 but it also failed in committee.^® For several years, the question re- 

 ceived little attention, but in 1900, an effort was made in both houses 

 of Congress to secure free timber for the coast states by means of an 

 extension of the Permit Act. Moody of Oregon introduced the meas- 

 ure into the House, and Senator Simon of the same state brought it 

 up in the Senate.*" The House bill was never reported, but the Senate 

 bill passed both houses without opposition,®^ and became a law on 

 March 3, 1901. "' 



It was the Oregon delegation in Congress that was always most 

 anxious for the further extension of free timber privileges. Nearly all 

 of the bills introduced after the year 1900 were fathered by men from 

 that state; and the extension of the Permit Act in 1901 was not 

 enough to satisfy these men, for efforts were very soon resumed to 

 secure still further free timber privileges for the coast states. In 

 1903, Representative Williamson of Oregon introduced two bills to 

 amend the Free Timber Act.*^ The next year. Senator Mitchell of that 

 state brought up a bill to provide free timber for Oregon, Washington, 

 and California.** Senator Fulton reported it favorably from the Com- 



T6 H. R. 8268; 52 Cong. 1 sess. 



77 H. Report 1379; 52 Cong. 1 sess.: H. R. 8268; 52 Cong. 2 sess.: Stat. 27, 444. 



78 S. 612; 53 Cong. 1 sess. 



79 H. R. 7818; 53 Cong. 2 sess.: Cong. Rec, Vol. 26, p. 8328. 



80 H. R. 8065, S. 2866; 56 Cong. 1 sess. 



81 Cong. Rec, Mar. 19, 1900, 3036; Mar. 2, 1901, 3481. 



82 Stat. 31, 1436. 



83 H. R. 8143, H. R. 8144; 58 Cong. 2 sess. 



84 S. 2994; 58 Cong. 2 sess. 



