Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-02-21
A DANGEROUS BILL.


Elsewhere In this issue will befound
the full text OF the bill for the leasing
Of the public grazing lands OF the
west, referred to In these columns
last week as now pending beforecon-
gress. The bill was introduced by
Senator Foster of Washington, and
we are surprised to see such a meas
ure iathered by a senator from oneoi
the public land states. The bill IL
decidedly un-American In any view OF
II, as u most casual reading OF its
provisions will show. Aside from
the fact that 1t places the entireques-
ton as to whether certain public
lands shall be leased or not In the
hands OF one man, the secretary OF
agriculture, its most dangerous pro-
visions are that II evidently contem-
plates the leasing Of extensive areas
OF public lands In large blocks, thus
withdrawing all such lands from set
Element and entry under the public
land laws, to the detrlment Of the
poorer class and to the manifest ad-
vantage OF the wealthy. 1t Is true
that section 6 provides that all leases
made under the act "shall be for the
smallest area compatible with the
best utilization of the land for graz.
ing purposes" but II that provision
were any protection to the would-be
settlers upon the public lands and to
the small farmers and stock owners,
section 0 provides that whenever,
In the judgment Of the secretary OF
agriculture, II Is to the interest Of the
United States to consolidate areas OF
grazing lands for leasing under the
provisions OF this act, the secretary
OF the interior Is authorized to ex-
change public grazing lands with the
states or private wner for other
grazing lands OF practically equal
value" thus sho wing the evident
purpose of the act is to lease these
lands In large blocks. 1t Is unques-
tionable that the "best utilization OF
the land for grazing PURPOSES" to
quote from section O Of the act, is to
leave 1t open to settlement, or as
public range, free to rich and poor
alike.
Another dangerous feature Of the
act is the provision Of section Z, max.
ing 1t II misdemeanor, punishable by
fine or imprisonment, to Craze stock
upon such leased lands, whether the
same be fenced or not. To make II a
crime to Craze stock upon unenclOsed
tracts OF land would work untold
hardship upon all stockmen, as was
decided by the supreme court Of Mon
tana, when II held that there was no
trespass in driving stock upon men
closed lands owned by private par
ties.
Section 4 OF the act throws a sop
to the state by providing that one
half of all rentals received shall be
paid to the state treasurer 'to be
used for Irrigation and other agricul-
tural development" but would the
state be the gamer by the enactment
OF such a law?
Section ) provides that the annual
rental shall not be less than one cent
per acre, but that the annual rental
in any one lease shall not he less than
$40. 1t need not be stated that, In
the great majority OF cases, the leases
would be made ut the minimum rem
tai. or at the rate of $40 per annum
for 1000 acres. Under present condi.
tions Montana IL receiving thousands
OF dollars annually as rentals for Its
school and other state lands, which
income is increasing every year. The
state exacts an annual rental OF be.
tween seven and eight cents per acre,
and the lands are worth IL and rent
readily Mt that figure. But how much
OF its lands could our state lease al
. that rental II the United States should
offer to lease its public lands In tn,
state, in tracts to suit the lessee, al
one cent per acre?
II the Foster hill should become q
! law, as soon M the leases from til,
. state expired every state institution
I depending wholly, or largely. upor
the income from Its public land gran
would be bankrupt. Nor would TIL
3 fact that the state might receive {
: considerable sun Of money from
rentals be OF any use to them, for tn
[ bill restricts the use OF all such mon
e eys to Irrigation and agriculture
n development" 1t II to the interrs
OF the state, and Of every individual
In the state. to = every effort to de
faaf tho meaaurp. 4