Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1900-02-23
AN 1MPoRrANr BILL.

National Livestock Association at it's
recent session condemned the bill
and appointed a committee to draft a
substitute. The principal objections
urged against the bill are: First. the
bill allows too much discretion to the
Secretary OF agriculture; second, it
affords an opportunity to large stock
owners to tense large tracts OF land to
the detriment OF the small owners;
and third, 1t would hinder tue per.
manent settlement Of the arid States,
as all lands held under lease would
not lie subject to location or pur-
chase, as at present, during the life
Of the lease.
Tho INDEPENDENT believes that the
whole scheme is vicious and should
be defeated. IL enacted into law
syndicates and wealthy stockmen
will lease large tracts OF the public
lands, thereby %crowding ont small
owners and forcing them out OF bust
ness. THIS would retard the growth
and development OF every arid State.
The bill Is Of such Vast importance
to the State that we publish it in full.
II is as follows:
1SEc. l. That such Of the vacant
public lands west Of the 99th merid-
ian of longitude, west from Green
witch, ms in the judgment Of the Sec
rotary Of Agriculture are more valu-
able for grazing than for other uses,
shall be subject to lease for grazing
purposes.
SEC. =. The Secretary OF Agricul-
ture shall furnisl, to he Secretary OF
the Interior, from time to time. lists
OF the lands that are tn be leased un.
der the provisions of this act, desig-
mating in such lists the lands that are
to be included in each separate lease.
and the minimum rental per acre to
be included in each lease, and upon
the receipt OF such lists the Secretary
OF the Interior shall instruct the
commissioner Of the General Land
Office to proceed to lease such lands
in accordance with the provisions OF
this act.
"SEC. 3. After lands shall have
been leased under the provisions Of
this act, they shall moi be opened for
filing or entry under any Of the land
laws OF the United States while such
lease exists, excepting as mineral
lands, and wherever leased lands are
entered AZ mineral lands under the
land laws Of the United States. they
shall be cancelled from the lease and
proper adjustment made OF the rental
by the Secretary OF the Interior.
"SEc. 4. That the money derived
from the rentals shall be converted
into the Treasury OF the United
States and one-hAlf the gross amount
collected In such States shall be paid
to the treasury OF that State, 10 be
used for irrigation and other agrIcul-
tural development in such way rs it's
Legislature may direct.
@SEc. 5. The rate Of rental in no
case SHALL be less than one cent per
acre per annuT; the amount OF an.
nual rental IN any IL lease shall not
be less thnn $40, and no lease shall be
made for a longer period than ten
years, provided, that my tense may be
renewed for ono or more periods not
exceeding ten years upon the approx
al Of the Secretary OF Agriculture
and at such rate or rental us he may
designate.
@SEc. 6. All leases made under
this act shall be for the smallest area
compatible with the best utilization
OF the land for grazing purposes.
-SEC. 7. After lands shall have
been leased under the provisions OF
this act, it will he unlawful for any
ono except the lessee to enter upon
such land for the purpose Of grazing
stock thereon, and such entry shall
be deemed n misdemeanor. punish
able by a fine not 10 exceed $500, or
imprisonment for a period not ex-
ceedInR six months. or both, and tho
fines collected shall he paid into tho
school fund oi the county in which
the lands where tho oFegse was COM.
mittcd are situated.
rSEo. 8. Lenses shall be made only
to citizens OF the United States who
are residents Of the State in which
the land 10 located. or to corporations
organized under the laws OF that
State.
"SEo. 0. Whenever. in the judg.
mont Of the Secretary Of Agriculture
it is to the interest OF the United
States to consolidate areaa of grazing
land for leasing under the provisions
OF this act, the Secretary OF the In
terror is authorized to exchange pub.
lie grazing lands OF practically equal
value,
"SEo. 10. The Secretary Of the In.
terror and tho Secretary Of Agrioul.
turc shall jointly prescribe the neces.
sary rules and regulations for carry.
ing into effect the provisions OF this
act,-