, 1900-11-26
THE WOLF BOUNTY.

The Douglas Budget suggests that
there will be another fight over the
bounty bill. There has never been a
fight. Thus far it has been a clear case
OF stand and deliver. The cattlemen
have been in the majority and they
nave simply taken all that they desir-
ed, or dared, to take. They have gen
orally admitted that it was a clear case
Of hold-up, but have excused the act by
saying that to levy an assessment up
On live stock for bounty purposes
would be unconstitutional. Montana
levies a tax upon live stock to EXTERN
inatet wild animals. and cities and
towns levy a tax upon city property to
pay for police and fire protection. but
the cattlemen of Wyoming feel that
their neighbors should come to their
their stock and as long as their neigh
bors do not raise serious objection they
will be compelled to do so.
The Republican has in the past pre-
scented its views upon this matter in a
fair and fearless manner and it will
continue to do so when occasion re-
quires. 1t believes that every taxaper
should be upon an absolute equality.
No man in Wyoming should be com
PEELED to bear the burdens of his neigh
Dor ~needlessly. If the stockmen were
poor. living from hand to mouth. they
might feel no compunctions about ask.
ing the wealth of the state to give
them a life: but this is not the case.
They are prospecting and are able to
county, The Republican is pleased to
say, stockmen have shown a disposition
to bear the burden that belongs to
them, without asking for the bounty Of
others.
The Budget presents the other side
OF the case in the following language:
Another fight over the question of
bounty on predatory wild animals is
billed for Cheyenne, January and Feb
ruary next inclusive. and legislators
elect are already trimming their corns
and clearing their threats in anticipa-
ton thereof. While a few short-sight-
ed and more or less selfish individuals
have invariably opposed an %appropria-
ton for this purpose yet it has carried
in the past and l believe will again.
However the state should not bear the
burden alone. If stockmen would form
local associations, and add to the small
bounty paid by he state a liberal do
nation to be paid on fresh and green
hides-expert trappers and hunters
could afford to devote their entire at
%tention to these varmints and they
would soon be practically eXterminat-
ed. Under present conditions they are
held in check only, and their numbers
rather increase than decrease. Many
Of these local associations have been
formed during the past year-some Of
them paying as high as $50 on wolves
and SIS on pups. In this county. Mr..
J.. . Shaw has been paying a private
bounty, Wnile H~elsHpoTlHs TancIHleH
have taken like action without any for
NAL organization. Mr.. Russell Thorpe
OF Rawhide has been trying to get the
stockmen in eastern Converse county
together on the proposition also. I be-
lieve the legislature should and will
pass a bounty bill. and yet experience
has shown that II will have little effect
in reducing the number or damage of
these pests unless ranchmen and
sheepmen get together in every county
and settlement throughout the state
and by an equitable assessment on
their holdings, double or treble the
amount paid by the state"