Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-05-03
WESTERN INTERESTS.
Cattlemen Leave Washington With
out Securing Legislation.
NEW MEXICO PUBLIC LANDS.

A special dispatch to the Denver
Republican. from Washington under
date of May 1, says:
The delegation of cattlemen who
have been here making an effort to Sc
cure leasing legislation, returned home
convinced that the desired legislation
cannot be secured at this session of
congress. Before leaving the delega-
ton had a conference with President
Roosevelt, at which Secretary Hitch
cock and Commissioner Hermann of
the lane Office were present. The plan
suggested by the Nebraska cattlemen
of leasing legislation applicable to that
state alone was discussed. but no on
clusion vas reached.
Secretary Hitchcock, when asked
about the conference, said whatever
action is taken would be slow and with
no intention of causing trouble to cat
tie raisers. He said the subject of &C.
cupation of public lands by stockmen
had absolutely nothing to do with the
beef trust in any shape or form.
The visiting stockmen, while salts
fed that no legislation in behalf of
cattle raisers will be enacted at this
session, feel that they have accom-.
plished much good by their visit,
through the various conferences held
with the president and officers of the
interior department.
Would Save the Grass.
Representative Sutherland reported
from the house irrigation committee a
bill amending the reservoir and act OF
June Is, 1897. The bill as amended re.
serves an area within a radius of
two miles surrounding reservoirs con
structed under the act, so that the
grass may be preserved for transitory
herds of stock driven to and from
these watering places while en- route
to shipping points. The usefulness OF
these watering places for live stock be
ing driven to shipping points is much
impaired under the present law by the
fact that local stock is grazed by own
ers upon the grass in the immediate
vicinity of the reservoirs, leaving moth
ing for the use of herds being driver
to market.
Forest Reserve Grazing.
Complaints have reached Washing
ton from Wyoming sheepmen thai
grazing privileges or the Uintah res
ervation, Utah. have been placed a
the disposal of the Utah Stock associa
ton. which is refusing to grant per
mits to Wyoming sheep owners. III
order to give the Wyoming stockmeI
equal privileges with those of Utah
Senator Clark, of Wyoming, has sub
mitted an amendment to the sundr!
civil appropriation pill, providing tina
in granting permits for grazing priv
leges on the Uintah forest reserve. NJ
preference shall be given to the fiocks
or herds of n state over those OF an
other.
Riparian Law Inquiry.
The house of representatives, il
adopting the agricultural appropria
ton bill, has amended the provision
making an appropriation for irrigation
Investigations by providing that thi'
branch of the service shall investigate
and make inquiry into laws relative t.
rights of riparian owners and of W
ers holding rights under the doctrine
of prior appropriation. These are ques
lions now involved in the c%ontrovers,
before the United States supreme
court in the suit brought by the stat
of Kansas against Colorado.
New Mexico Lands.
A favorable report has been made b!
the house public lands committee OF
the bill authorizing sales of timbe
from public lands in New Mexico
Under the proposed act timber may b.
sold in tracts not to exceed 25,OO
acres for the highest and best price
obtainaDle. Under the present law tim
Der can only be sold In tracts of m
quarter section. thus restricting an
preventing sales.