Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-07-24
THINKS CATTLE
MEN ARE HOGG|SH
Secretary Hitchcock Gives His
Views on Fencing in Of
Public Domain.
REPLIES TO CRITICISMS
interior Department Recognizes I'm,
oortancs of the Stock Industry,
but Law Must Be Enforced
Rights of tlomesteaders.

Washington, July 2i.-The cattleme1.
Hiao have fences on the public ranges
have not yet abandoned their hope OF
securing some modification of the order
Ut the president and the secretary of
the interior requiring their removal.
The order was ignored by the cattle
men until it was discovered by them
that the officials We're determined to
have the laws enforced. Then an eff
fort was made to have legislation en-
acted which would give the cattlennen
another extension of time for complt-
ance with the law. The effort failed.
and ROW pressure is being brought to
bear to induce MIR. Hitchcock, the sec
rotary OF the interior. to modify the
order, Oh at least join in the plan for
legislation that will leave the cattle
men In possession of the ranges. The
secretary has been receiving a large
number of letters from cattlemen
throughout the country, some of them
critieising his position and others
urging his assistance in securing them
further rights on the ranges. The fol-
answer to one of his correspondents
Very clearly explains the attitude of
the administration toward the cattle
men and the leasing proposition:
am today in receipt of your favor
.lnclcsing Il letter from MIR. Smith. I'M
relation to recent regulation respact-i
lnS the removal of fences around
ranches in the western country and
hote that you think there is consider
able force in Mr.. Smiths criticism off
that regulation.
Has No Discretion.
Mr.. Smiths letter has been very
carefully considered, and i assure youi
it will always give me great pleasurei
to unite with MIR. Smith in any legiti-
mate action that viii add very ma
lerlally to the iustre of your present
tame Quoting further from Mr..
Smiths letter, we are having very
practical demonstration that the
thoroughbred cattlemen all over the
central states have written to their
representatives in congress and in the
senate, and it may be that some pres-l
sure may be brought to bear that will
overcome the force of this order but
the mistake our good friends, the cat-
t!emen, are making is in supposing that
The department has any discretion I'M
It's administration of the laws of con-;
sress, as enacted by the representa-
tives of the people, and which, unfor-
;unately, in too many instances are
oeiNg disregarded by them.
The department has issued no order
nor regulation that is not in strict
compliance with the law which prohib-i
is the appropriation and occupation
~ cattcmen OF the public domain, and,
you, as u legislator, viii, l think, agree
With me that the remedy for an OBJ
aoXious law is its repeal, if it is found
o be unjust and against the interests.
If the majority of the people of this
country, who are the real owners of,
he public domain.
II fully sympathZe with Mr. Smiths
very natural and proper desire to find
4 market for his thoroughbred cattle.
lmong the cattlemen who have fenced
n the public domain to am extent
which he evidently does not realize,
ind to tie exclusion OF ilomesteadprs
md settlers Who are fully entitled to
he protection which the law guaraM-!
.ees them. He is, perhaps, not aware;
hat in one instance alone G5,000 acres
IF the public domain have been fenced
in by one party, who, with others, was
lere last winter enaeaNo.ing to secure
egslation that would justify sucilI
tction upon terms and conditions ttati
would practically amount to a ccnfis-!
cation of that amount of the public
land.
Excludes the Settlers.
This is; only one illustration OF the.
hundreds of thousands of acres of the,
public domain which have been APP
propri;tteG, and the miles upon miles
of DRIFT fences which have been
rected. to the exclusion of settlers and
lolncsteadeis, without the slightest
compensation to the government or
recognition of the rights of their fell
0N citizens, q proceeding which | am
sure Mr.. Smith, as ~ good citizen,
would not think of justifying any more
ham he woulsl the appropriation by
,tllers of his o.en thoroughbred cattle
With no proper nor reasonable COM
oenSation for his loss.
The department fully realizes and
appreciates the magnitude of the cap.
tai Invested il, the cattle business, as
Well us the necessity for rendering
very possible legal and equitable as
;istance in the protection and develops
llent Of such an Indispensable food
producing industry, but it cannot ig-
lore existing laws enacted for the
proper regulation of the same, nor
! ousd it do otherwise than oppose sem
ltc bill 3,311. introduced at the last
session Of congress, under the terms of
which, had ii become Il law. all vacant
public lands in sixteen states and ter
.itorieS west of the Mississippi river
would have been open to lease fer a
.crm of ten years, AMI renewable for u
| like period 1t the rate of . cents per
| lere regardless of location or actual
| saline as grazing land.
| The department is ready and more
| Than willing to assist in securing such
| Legislation rs Will, on proper lines, p.o-
| :ect and promote the interests of the
| .attleinen, and has so informed them
| ind their representatives, both in and
| Ht of congress.
| STAND BY is TO (.