46 



of one percent of this land each year to live on? We know you will 

 not let us build a home there, and we know that we will never be 

 able to buy even one acre of it, but could we just be allowed to 

 work there? After one hundred years, over ninety percent of it will 

 still be untouched. 



Until we see your votes on this bill we will not know if you came 

 as friends or as inquisitors searching for truth on a fraudulent in- 

 dictment. Sadly today some well-meaning folks will suggest a gen- 

 erous compromise, naively hoping that by giving the sponsor a 

 major portion of what they think is desired that maybe Congress 

 will accept the compromise and leave us alone. We veterans of the 

 Tongass know all too well that the environmental extremists will 

 not be satisfied as long as people inhabit the Tongass. 



I will cut my remarks off at that point. Thank you. [Applause.] 



Senator Wirth. The Chair would remind those at the hearing 

 that they are here as guests of the committee and guests of the 

 Senate and the Rules of the Senate, the involvement of the com- 

 mittee is not welcome and we want to get through this hearing as 

 much as possible — I realize that this is an issue of great emotional 

 concern to many but I think that maintaining the processes of the 

 Committee is a way which would be always observed. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Taylor follows:] 



