The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-15
GRAZING LANDS LEASES.
SENATOR FOSTERS BILL APPRov'
ED IN EAST OF STATE.
stock Men Think, However, That =
Longer Term Than Ten Years
should he Permitted-Work OF
the washington Congressmen.

fer'H Dill, pTOVlQluR IoT lthoto VI bD'>~''
ment grazing lands, appears to have met
with great appreciation by majority OF
the stock men throughout the eastern
part OF the state. Letters which nave
been received by various members OF the
delegation Indicate this Some objection,
however, has been raised to the time
limit In the fifth section of the bill. stock
men are satisfied that the ten-year limit
Is not enough. They say that the party
leasing large tracts Of this government
grazing land, in order to realize any actual
benefit from their leasehold. Will be COM
PEELED to go to the great expense or
fencing the same in order to protect this
leased range from outside predatory bands
Of stock. and they further urge that the
leasehold of ten years will not warrant
this great expense. 1t Is claimed that the
time should be extended at least five. II
not ten years. or II not that, the lessee.
provided he has paid his rent and COM
piled with all the government regulations,
have the refusal Of releasing In cases
not practicable. II the leased range at the
expiration OF his term be contracted for
by other parties, such person should be
compelled to pay him fair appraised
valuation for the improvements he has
erected to protect the range.
Otherwise, stock nYen assert that but
very few ranges can be leased, as those
warranting such an expense for ten
year tcTu uTC lew anu bctWpVH <hbN
the lessees, the last year Of their lease
hold, would be compelled to Craze down
to the roots of the grass In order to come
out even.
The above embraces the sentiments ex-
pressed by stock men Of different classes
throughout the state, as embodied In let
tiers to the senator and other members Of
the delegation.
Parties in Porto Rico.
Try o..S..
military governor Of Porto Rico, the resi-
dents OF that newly acquired territory are
falling rapidly into the political methods
characteristic of the mother country. Gen.
Davis has been called to Washington for
consultation with Senator Foraker and
the members OF the Porto Rican commit
tee. respecting the form of government
best suited to the present needs of the
island. The general is veritable mine Of
interesting information about Porto Rican
affairs and he talks entertainingly Of the
situation there.
He was explaining to Senator Foraker
yesterday that there are already two DO
litical parties organized in the island. one
called the Federalists and the other the
Republicans. Senator Foraker did not
understand how there could be a division
on party lines when there Is, as yet, no
definite political issue involved In con-
Quoting the government of Porto Rico.
what does the Federal party believe
in. and what does 1t want?" asked the
senator.
"Oh, the FederalIsts want the Offices"
replied Gen. Davis.
But what does the Republican party
down there want and what does 1t believe
in?" rejoined Senator Foraker.
"Oh. the Republicans also want to get
the Offices answered the general. Thus
II appears lat human nature, at least as
AFFECTS tn1, hA
sames there as here.
Municipal elections now are being Gre
ated in Porto Rico, under the supervision
Of American officers. Gen. Davis explains
that the franchise qualifications obtain
ing under Spanish regime have been con-
tinued, with slight notifications. Among
these qualifications is the requirement
that each voter must be possessed of prop
erty to the value of $40. This afforded the
FederalIsts an opportunity to furnish a
number Of negroes with the necessary $40
and then vote them. very much after the
accepted fashion in the Southern states
OF this country. The Republicans discov-
cred the fraud. however, and a number of
the offenders now are In jail awaiting trial
and punishment.
Mad Dog Scare.
Diplomatic" dogs aren't compelled to
wear muZzles in Washington. In this
many Of them differ from their more or
less distinguished masters. The unusual
liberties enjoyed by the diplomatic dogs
have been brought to the attention Of the
public by the rabies scare Just now affect
ing the national capital. Since the agricul-
tural department declared that rabies was
prevalent in the District of Columbia and
the adjacent counties of Maryland and
Virginia, which was followed by the muz-
zling regulation, 1t has developed that the
Federal and local authorities concede that
dogs belonging to foreign embassies and
legations may run at large without muZ-
zles, although the dog of an American
citizen. President McKinley's. for exam
pie, must be muzzled and licensed.
The District of Columbia authorities
have, therefore, requested the ambassa-
doris, ministers. and attaches of the for
eign establishments to cooperate with
Them in preventing the spread of rabies
by muzzling their pet CANNES. Every dog
not wearing the metal tag, which shows
that his owner paid the required tax, is
liable to be impounded. To overcome the
possibility of any diplomatic incident
through the arrest Of diplomats dog by
the undiscriminating poundmaster, the
collector of taxes for the district sends
each embassy or legation at the begin
ming of the fiscal year. These tags are
furnished gratis, but an American citizen
must pay 50 to secure one.
There has been an indignant outburst
against the muzzling regulation, but the
representatives of foreign countries have
shown a courteous disposition to regard
the request of the district commission
ers. There are several dogs at the Brit
ish embassy, which had heretofore been
permitted to run at large. Lord Paunce-
fote and his family have gone to some
expense to carry out plan through
which they may conform to the new
regulation without subjecting their dogs
to the annoyance of a muzzle In the
yard of the embassy grounds there is
large Enclosure, in which the Pauncefote
dogs are kept. This Enclosure is plainly
visible from the street, and many people
stop to watch the animals confined there,
the wire permitting an interior view.
The present mad dog scare here is said
to have had Its origin among the dogs
in the British embassy. collie belong
ing to Lady Pauncefote and a fox terrier
owned by Reginald Tower, first secretary
of the legation, showed signs of rabies
and were killed.
WnshfnUfOn ReureRentatfyeH.