New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-01
CATTLEMEN TO FIGHT.
STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS
IN BEEF TRUST WAR.
TEARING DOWN FENCES MAY CAUSE
BLOODSHED - MANY PROTESTS
AGAINST THE PRESI-
DENTS ORDER
DENTS ORDER.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I


Washington. April 3O-Slnce the exclusive
publication in The Tribune this morning of the
Presidents intention to make war against the
Beef and Cattle Trust by ordering all fences
Illegally constructed 10 be torn down. some
startling developments have risen to the sur
face. Scores of cattlemen and their attorneys
are in Washington. using every effort to thwart
any action against the rangers which would re-
suit in mixing their cattle. To tear down fences
and let all cattle Craze together on the public
domain at this season of the. year would pro-
duce CONSERVATION throughout the West. Sen
ator Warren, of Wyoming said tonight that
it would result in actual boodshed. 1t would
mean wrenching the very assets from the ran
gers. In times past more cOnspicuOusIy in the
administration Of President Cleveland. there was
blOodshed for this cause. But to enforce the
law by compelling illegal cattle tenants to
vacate the federal domain is regarded as a
bold strike against the trusts well designed to
secure justice and protect the farmer. who Is
now literally having his business ruined by the
grazing capitalists. who. with paltry claim
no claim at ALL absorb the watered pasture
lands of the West. ard inclose the surrounding
territory with wire fences. so as to deprive the
farmer and settler OF the use of government
water and grass. Responsibility for the action
to be taken to correct this evil is laid at ths
door of the Secretary of the Interior. As re-
suit. Secretary Hitchcock has been SUBJECTED to
severe criticism.
From two members of the Cabinet expressions
We're obtained to-day emphaticaIy declaring the
monopoly Of the public domain outrage which
ought to be broken up. Conditions in this cOun-
try now, they said, are not they were twenty
years ago. Public land is comparatively scarce.
and should be carefully preserved for the hcme-
seeker. instead Of being given over to the en-
cOuragement of a conspiracy largely respousible
for the excessive price of beef
To facilitate regainiug possession Of the Mill
ions of acres of public domain now occupied un-
lawfully. the Secretary of the Interior several
months ago ordered a thorough investigation
into the entire question. VOluminOus reports
from the land agents and the Commissioner OF
the Land Office which show that in every West
ern State where there is public reservation
there ara Illegal tenants, are now IN the hands
of Secretary Hitchcock In every one OF these
States there are vexatious problems with which
officials here have to deal In some States there
are factions of rangers ready 10 acquiesce IN
the enforcement OF the regulations because OF
peculiar benefits to be derived therefrom- These
are in the minority. while the majority. through
their legal and Congressional representatives.
sent to this city. have declared in unequivoeal
terms their determination to resist to the last
the tearing down of fences.
Senator Niliard said tonight that the dele
CATION from Nebraska would be unit in fight
ing such an order and would unite in support
ing Hesitation providing for leasing public lands.
Within the last week the Nebraskan Congress
men have introduced about fifty cattlemen from
that State at the White House to protest to tha
President gainst forcing the evacuation or tnese
domains II is evident that they have reiuctant-
ly decided that there is no chance Of securing
ar-.T
efforts have been turned TO Congress To-day
Representative Lacey OF Iowa. chairman OF the
Committee ol. Public Lands. introduced bill
TO authorize the Secretary Of the Interior TO
lease portions of the public domain for period
Of five years at the end OF which time the leases
are to expire. without any rights Of renewal
The intent of the bill is 10 give ample time for
the Cattlemen to arrange 10 vacate without IN
curing unnecessary losses The rent rates pro-
prosed are one. two. three, four, five and six
cents a head an acre. according to the grade OF
the land occupied Division of the lands would
be made under this bill by the Secretary Of the
Interior To this bill there are many objections.
in the opinion Of several Senator'S and the COM
mon belief is that it is too general 10 prevent
partial results The bill was framed as a sub
stitute for another one. now shelved. which pro-
posed to lease the lands for ten years the rate
of two cents head an acre pasturage, with
the right Of indefinite renewal
From the activity and excitement prevailing
here with respect to a solution Of the public
domain question il is evident that the forth
coming fight in Congress to secure an adjust
ment Of the matter Will assume the most SenSa-
tionaI character: and the consideration OF IT
appears 10 be near at hand. Leading Senators
have expressed these ideas, adding that every
one knew il must come some time
VIEWS AT DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
At the Department. of Justice to-day the news
of the Illegal cattle tenants was the leading
topic of discussion. Ii developed an entirely
new phase Of the bees investigation Checking
unlawful pasturage on these lands would benefit
legitimate farming; cattle could not be bred so
high: the stock. being better cared for, would
produce a higher quality OF beef. ana as thers
would be no wholesale free grazing in the regu-
lar course of farming the cattle would nave 70
be marketed in the proper season thousands
of them could not be left to roam the pralrleS
for the purpose of decreasing supply with an m
creased demand TO run up the price OF beef
Although it seems simple TO stop the con-
spiracv TO control beef prices by this means. the
Department OF Justice Will not change its plans,
but will go on with the investigation already
started There can be misapprehens1on IN
regard to the object of the department 70 Try
the case against the Beef Trust because or Vio-
lation of the legal limitation on combinations.
and also 10 establish 10 what extent the law may
have been broken in all phases of the case. On
these grounds the Attorney General proceeds,
although the net result may be a drop IN INC:
mice Of beef and the establishment or a prs
cedent to be obs erved hereafter in restricttn
the operation of combinations by the federt