402 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



so far as may be advisable with authorities in this commonwealth and in 

 other states and countries in regard to said matters, and shall draft an act 

 providing such methods of taxation of wild or forest lands as will develop 

 and conserve the forest resources of the commonwealth. The said commis- 

 sion shall also investigate the present policy of the commonwealth with 

 regard to the acquisition and management of wild or forest lands and report 

 what further legislation, if any, is necessary. The report shall also con- 

 tain a compilation of statistics and other information obtained by the com- 

 mission and shall be made on or before the first Wednesday in January, 

 nineteen hundred and fourteen. Of the said commissioners, one member 

 shall be the tax commissioner and one member shall be the state forester. 

 The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but 

 may incur such expenses in the performance of their duties, not exceeding 

 the amount of five thousand dollars, as may be authorized by the governor 

 and council. The commission shall be provided with suitable quarters in 

 the state house or elsewhere. [Approved June 16, 1913. 



Acting under the authority given him by this resolve, the 

 Governor appointed, as members of this commission, the State 

 Tax Commissioner, W. D. T. Trefry, the State Forester, F. W. 

 Rane, as required by the resolve, Mr. Harold Parker, ex-chair- 

 man of the Massachusetts Highway Commission, Prof. C. J. 

 Bullock, professor of economics at Harvard University and 

 Mr. Charles H. Preston of Danvers. The commission promptly 

 organized with Tax Commissioner Trefry as chairman, and 

 immediately entered upon its duties. Public hearings were ad- 

 vertised and held in the following places: October 31, at the 

 State House; November 5, at Greenfield; November 6, at 

 Springfield; November 7, at Pittsfield; November 14, at Worces- 

 ter; November 21, at the State House; November 28, at Mid- 

 dleborough. 



Nearly all of these hearings were largely attended, and the 

 commission acquired very much valuable information and data 

 bearing upon the problem given it to solve. 



Moth Superintendent and Forest ]J'arden Appointments changed. 

 The importance of beginning moth suppression operations as 

 early as possible in each year wath a thoroughly organized force 

 of men in every city and town where such work is necessary, 

 also to allow for sufficient time to instruct forest wardens with 

 regard to the prevention and extinguishment of forest fires be- 



