57 



committee. Instead of interposing myself I shall wait until the com- 

 mittee make the suggestion. 



Mr. Hitt. — My idea in making the motion was this : We are here 

 seeking the .truth', and it is an old rule followed as long as I have 

 known about evidence, that we generally get the most on a cross- 

 examination. We are apt to, because leading questions can be put 

 In this State we have had, in the last few years, several investigations. 

 As has been stated, the Senate committee in New York have allowed 

 counsel to appear and cross-examine any of the witnesses, and I 

 never heard that any objection was made to such course. I remember 

 a year ago last winter that two investigations were conducted in this 

 room. One committee admitted counsel and the other excluded 

 counsel. The moment the committee excluded counsel the people 

 lost confidence in the committee, and so did the Legislature, as evinced 

 in its final action. But for all that, I think, as Mr. Bush suggests, it 

 should be under the control of the committee. 



Chairman Ryan. — Your motion is that the commission be allowed 

 counsel, to be represented by counsel ? 

 Mr. Hitt. — Yes, sir. 

 Chairman Ryan. — And that is all ? 

 Mr. Hitt. — That is the motion. 

 Mr. Bush. — I second it. 



Chairman Ryan then submitted the motion, and it was carried. 

 Mr. Bush. — The extent of the examination is not yet defined. 

 Mr. Hitt.— That is left to the judgment of the committee. We are 

 simply directed to get some information as to the administration of 

 the laws relating to the forests. No one. is accused of anything. 

 There is no trial. There is no accused party. We call the parties 

 before us for the purpose of getting information through the readiest 

 channel. There -is nothing in the way of a trial contemplated, nor is 

 an accusation made. Our committee is directed by the resolution to 

 make- an inquiry as to the administration of the law, and upon that 

 information so obtained to recommend legislation if we deem it 

 necessary. We do not want a very protracted examination or investi- 

 gation, but we wish it to be searching, thorough and practical, and 

 for that reason we would like to have counsel confine their proceed-* •■> 

 ings within a reasonable limit. We are as desirous as counsel to 

 arrive at all the information possible. 



Mr. Anibal. — As an adjournment was suggested, I would say that 



we have several questions which we would like to ask Mr. Sanger. I 



think the counsel upon the part of the commission (Mr. Piero, Mr. 



Hessberg and myself) have tried to be as expeditious as we could. We 



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