ED[T@R[AL

Year of Frustration

fl S ttris year of presidential politics moves Flthrough the Fall campaign, it is already be' ing called by a number of different names. Some style it The Outsider vs. the Washington Establishment, others see it as The Unproven vs. The Known Commodity. From our vantage point of the forest products industry, we think a better handle is The Year of Frustration. The Monon' gahela problem is recognized by virtually all seg' ments as an area that can be cleared up by Congressional action (no matter which side one favors) yet nothing happens. Every month we look for a resolution, yet postponement remains the name of the game.

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Why is our system so unresponsive to the reasonable demands of its citizens? Why should a situation injurious to business and consumer alike be allowed to fester? Are our politicians so hypocritical in their sworn oath to perform their elected jobs that short term political maneuvering for personal gain must always defer the widely recognized needs of millions of Americans?

It certainly isn't for lack of information being supplied to Washington. Their own government data is extensive, the preservationists have inun' dated hearings with their position .and our in' dustry has been well represented by the National Forest Products Association. Yet it seems the draw of the election year on the politician is as strong as the moth to the flame. Apparently everything in Washington, except breakfast, is going to be postponed until after the election. How many millions of dollars of forest products have to be lost before our elected representatives gain even a glimmering of a sense of urgency?

A good bill to relieve the Monongahela prob' lem has already cleared the House Agriculture Subcommittee. It is H.R. 15069 and was introduced by Rep. John Melcher (D'Mont), and is backed by the NFPA as the most workable mea' sure yet introduced, providing its favorable aspects for the forest products industry are not cancelled out by amendments.

It seems incredible to us that given the interest, information,and cooperation from all sides of the dispute to the Congress that no solution is in sight.

We think the present muddle should be well remembered when it comes time to push the levers in the voting booth this Fall.

Douglas Fir