La Junta tribune., 1900-10-17

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+ THE LAND BOARD. 7
+ Thomas Wants Arid Lands Coded
: to the State-some Big Leases
T and Sales of State Land. I
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Governor Thomas position In favor
Of the cession Of the arid lands by the
general government to the several
states Is well known. He Is a states
rights Democrat, in that matter, and
profoundly distrusts the ability Of the
United States government to manage
land affairs. His views on this sub
ject We're expressed at some length In a
letter he wrote to the last Cattlemen's
Association at its needing In Denver
last spring. After telling them that he
was their friend and wanted to do
whatever was best for them, and that
there was disposition on the part of
the national government not to treat
them night, he went ON as follows:
ITO my mind the plan of state ces-
sion Of these arid lands is the one ef-
fective remedy. or course do not
pretend to be infallible, nor am l In any
sense welded to such a policy. can
and do rccc 2nlze that It is open to seri-
Gus objections have given this sub
ject, however, careful and anxious
thought for a long time. and am not
able to reach any other satisfactory
conclusion. l would not advocate IN
conditional cessi0n by any Means.
think the government should place am
pie restrictions In its act of cesslon and
bind the state policy with referen.,e to
such lands. They should be oren to
homestead and pre-emption as hereto
fore, the only difference being that .he
state and not the nation, should have
charge and regulation concerning them.
No monopoly should be permitted In
their sale, and no sale over aud above
n certain limited amount at given
time should ever be allowed. III at all.
Whether they should the. he leased or
subjected to free range the people of
each state could themselves decide, and
that decision would, of course, be final,
until the people themselves should
change 1t. The per capita tax could
be adopted If desired, resulting In an
apprec!able revenue for state pur
poses.
II know that It is urged that state
Legislatures cannot be trusted to ad
minister such affairs, and that the land
commissions In the past have been i'm
polite I'm their execution of such a
trust. but every argument Of that sort
is applicable with added force to the
Congress of the United States, and to
the general land department. l say
with added force, because these great
tribunals are controlled and regulated
by the people OF the United States,
while our states are controlled and
their policies outlined by the voters
nm v.aotda xuftbtn thar hordora Nn
general assembly or land board in a
western state holding such donation
could do otherwise than obey the man.
date of the people. and any evil result
ing from their impolitic or wrongful
action would be resented through the
polls from time to time. Such a policy,
IL the stock growers OF the country
could agree upon It would cement and
unite the action of a dozen states,
whose common policy would powerful
ly influence congressional legislation
and enable your inte~ IS to be pro-
tected practically wit t expense to
and by the general needs
of number of great commonwealth
acting in harmony with each other.
The land secured, 1t Is for you, then, to
determine how 1t shall be managed
and tine terms under which its common
use BIldA I'VE t-hJuyCu. Dt8 Va yOu 6CA-
iously to consider these things before
finally determining what your course
shall be.
Let me say In conclusion, that I am
in absolute harmony with your purpos-
es and objects, and l trust that as a
result Of your deliberations some we'll
defined policy will be outlined that cat,
be pursued by all Of us to the same
end. The interest Of the citizen 10 the
real interest of the commonwealth,
and IL 1 can in any manner contribute
toward subserving that interest, I shall
feel that the present administration has
not been without some benefit to the
people. / have the honor to be your
most obedient servant,
"CHARLES 8. THOMAS,
Governor"
In view Of the record Of Governor
Thomas land board, the remarks above
about the policy being outlined by the
people within the borders Of the state
is Instructive and perhaps amusing.
and also the part that no land board
could do otherwise than obey the man
date OF the people.
The present land board made Of
lease OF some 10000 acres OF land In
weld and Larimer counties at the min
tmum rate. to one large cattle COM
pany, the Warren company Of Wy0-
ming. A ten-year lease was ma1e q