Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1900-03-02

becoming thoroughly aroused to the
danger that threatens the common
wealth by the introduction in congress
Of the Foster bill, providing for the
leasing Of public lands in tracts of
any size at minimum rental of one
cent per acre per annum, and public
sentiment is rapidly crystallizing into
the form Of concerted protests against
the passage of the iniitqnous measure,
which, if it should become law,
would deprive the people Of their
rightful heritage and place intending
settlers at the mercy of land grabbers
and wealthy stockmen.
Remonstrances, addressed to this
states representative in congress, are
being prepared in nearly every county
in Montana, and the newspapers
everywhere are practically unit in
condemning the bill and urging the
speedy preparation of protests against
the passage of the dangerous meas
ure. A copy of the remonstrance was
yesterday received by The Picket, and
this Office is now having printed a
sufficient number of copies thereof
for circulation throughout the county.
They will be sent out to every cleo
ton precinct and it is to be hoped
that the several persons having them
in charge will see that the protests
are circulated as widely and as speed
lily as possible, returning them not
later than March Is to the chairman
of the county republican central com
mittee at Red Lodge, who will have
them forwarded Immediately to Sena-
tor Carter at Washington. The re-
monstrance reads as follows:
To the senator. and representatives
of the State of Montana:
"We, your petitioners, Of Carbon
county, Montana, desire to call your
attention to a bill entitled "Senate
Bill No. l947, for Leasing Public
Lands IN the West" introduced by
Senator Foster OF Washington, pro-
viding for the leasing and withdraw
ing from settlement of public lands
in tracts Of any size at a minimum
rental of one cent per acre; giving to
the secretary of agriculture the sole
right to say whether lands shall be
leased or not; giving to the secretary
OF the interior the right to exchange
lands with the state for the purpose
of consolidating public lands into i'm
mense blocks to facilitate leasing to
individuals or corporations; making
it a misdemeanor, punishable by fine
or imprisonment, to Craze stock upon
leased lands, whether fenced or un-
fenced, we would respectfully request
that you use your influence and vote
against tie enactment of said bill in
any form.
Situated as we are in the center OF
one Of the largest sections Of unset
tied public land in the west, we reco-
gnize the great evil and incalcuable
mischief the enactment of this pro
posed measure would incur.
It is apparent that under the pro.
visions OF the proposed law, leased
public lands would be withdrawn
from settlement and the existing pub
lie land laws of the United States
would be nullitied.
We consider the proposed measure
to be m- American and will, as we be
lieve, jeopardize the interests of a vast
number of bona fide settlers who have
through years OF privation and toi
built up homes and made investments
throughout the vest, and will stot
further development and settlement
of the territory affected.
Z. We trust that you will see The
danger threatened and that you vii
cooperate with us to defeat this pro
posed measure.
Here is the full text of the bill in
troduced by Senator Foster of th'
state of Washington:
\ Section l. That such of the publ.
lands west of the 99th meridian O
longitude, west of Greenwich, as il
the judgment OF the secretary Of agri
culture are more valuable for grazing
than for other uses, shall be subjec
to lease for grazing purposes.
Sec. 2. The secretary Of agriculture
shall furnish to the secretary OF tn
interior, from time to time, lists OF tn
lands that are to be included in eacl
separate lease, and the minimum
rental per acre for the area to be in
cluded in each lease. and upon TIL
receipt Of such lists the secretary o
the interior shall instruct the com
missioner of the general land office I
proceed to lease such lands in accord
ance with the provisions of this act.
Seq 3. After lands shall have bee