, 1900-02-20

al the idilus as II meets Win tue same
opposition from members from the
eastern and middle states as the pro-
position for the Cession of all the lands.
namely; That 1t is a tremendous gift
which the country cannot afford to
make.
Now there are some objections to
the cession of lands to ghe state of Wy
oming from the standpoint of the peo-
pie of the state. One very strong OBJ
lection is that the state cannot dispose
OF the lands for less than $40 an acre.
to the hands of the state must of ne
cessity remain state property, except
in some cases where in the curse of
time the lands become valuable. | am
not one of those who is afraid that the
states will squander their lands, but a
state which is handicapped with a $40
an-acre selling price Is unfortunate in
that 1t cannot dispose of any lands 1t
may own to its citizens. even in small
tracts, at a reasonable figure. This be-
ing the case | am not particularly en-
thusiastic over the cessiOn of lands to
the states. Although, as before stated,
it is not on account of the fear
that the state cannot take care
of its property of whatever kind
Or character and will not properly
administer it.
The secretary OF agriculture, as you
will recollecI, in his last annual report
recommended the leasing Of the graz
ing lands by the general government.
Senator Foster, of Washington, some
time ago introduced a bill providing
for the leasing of all the grazing lands
under the management of the secretary
to the highest bidder, etc. A member
from Texas has recently introduced a
bill providing elaborate machinery for
the management and leasing of the
grazing lands, all of them. under the di-
rection of the secretary of the interior.
Now | have received many letters
from small ranchmen in various por-
tons of the state. and have also talked
with many small rancnmen who have
said that for the protection of their
ranches it was absolutely necessary
that they be given the opportunity of
leasing some lands adjacent to the
ranch lands held by them. They said
they needed the same for pasture: that
the nomadic tiocks or herds eat the
grass so closely around their ranches
that they have not feed for their own
little flocks and herds, and they want a
reasonable amount Of pasture under
their own control. These men claim
hat they can get a great deal more
grass off an acre if they have it I'M
der their own control than ii it belongs
to the public domain and liable to be
fed at all seasons of the year.
Il do not believe that a bill provid-
ing for the leasing in general of the
public lands would be wise, and am
sure it would not be satisfactory to
our people at this time. In my opin-
ion the great ranges should be left
open, for the present at least, but for
the encouragement of small ranchmen
and to provide headquarters for those
owning stock. it seems as though some
provision should be made whereby men
may control a part at least of the range
they need.
MY bill is by no means, as you will
note, a general leasing proposition.
There are nearly so, 900, 900 acres of
lands in Wyoming u"nappropriated and
my bill would only provide for the
leasing of 1000. 900 acres. Further, my
bill would not be operative unless the
legislature so provided. Under my bill
the land would remain open to entry
under any of the land laws. Owners of
lands and settlers would be given the
first opportunity to lease and occupy
them.
Il introduced this bill entirely as a
suggestion of legislation. | have not
thought of pressing it for passage this
session, or at any time if its provisions
do not meet the wishes of our people.
1t certainly does no harm to discuss
these questions, in fact we will never
arrive at an understanding of what is
wanted unless we do have fair discus
sion. As a representative of our peo-
pie | feel that having beer asked by a
considerable number of people to pro-
pose some sort of Legislation, it is my
duty to do so. In this respect | believe
in the initiative, and the bill now hav-
ing been published to our people they
will now have the opportunity of dis
c~ussing it and expressing their views
upon it. No leasing bill of any kind
will, in my opinion, be passed this SEES
sion of congress. There is no DISPOSE
ton on the part of anybody of whom I
know to push any special measure.
There has never been SO much discus
sion of the question of the use of the
range before in my knowledge as there
is now, but the discussion is of a gen.
eral character and only with a view
of getting better acquainted with the
conditions as they exist in the various
portions of the country in order that
they may, some time in the future. per-
haps, agree on some proposition which
will be satisfactory to all.
IF our people do not want any land
to lease / certainly do not want to work
like a Turk. as l would have to, in or