TESTIMONY 



TAKEN BY THE 



Assembly Committee on Public Lands and Forestry Concerning 



the Administration of Laws in Relation to the Forest 



Preserve by the Forest Commission, Etc. 



Albany, N. Y., Thubsday, Jmuafy 22, 1891. 



Meeting of the committee on public lands and forestry of the 

 Assembly, in the Assembly parlor, Capitol, Albany, N. T. 



The committee met for organization at 12.15 p. m. t 



Present — Mr. Ryan, chairman; Messrs. Connelly, Davie, Hitt, 

 Cameron, Dempsey, Gr. H. Bush, H. J. Lane and Dickinson. 



Absent — Messrs. W. L. Brown and Gifford. 



The resolution of the Assembly, directing the committee to make 

 the investigation, was read by the chairman, as follows : 



On motion of Mr. George H. Bush: 



Resolved, That the committee on public lands and forestry be and 

 it is hereby authorized to undertake and prosecute, during the present 

 session of the Assembly, a general inquiry concerning the administra- 

 tion of the laws in relation to the forest preserve by the forest com- 

 mission, and to report what, if any, changes in the present laws are 

 necessary Jo better protect the forests belonging to the State, with 

 power of itself, or by any subcommittee of its own members, which 

 it may appoint, to summon witnesses and to examine them under 

 oath, to send for and examine books and papers, and to hold meetings 

 at such times and places as to such committee or subcommittee may 

 seem requisite and proper, and the committee is hereby authorized to 

 employ a stenographer. 



Adopted January twenty-one. 



Mr. Hitt moved that the selection of a stenographer be left to the 

 chairman. 

 - Adopted. 



Mr. Connelly moved that the committee procure copies of the New 

 York Herald, and such other newspapers as have contained articles 

 relating to the forestry commission: 



Adopted> 



