Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-05-01
LACEY HAS LEASING BILL
Designed to Protect Small Osttlsmen and
Shuts Out Big Corporations
LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF EACH HOLDER
Appropriation for Roads and Bridges
on Omaha and wInnebagO Reser-
walton Remains In the
Indian Bill.
CFrom a stan Correspondent

mittee on public lands Of the house, upon
his return from the Hawkeye state today
| introduced a bill to lease the grazing lands
Of the arid and seui-arld regions Of the
| United States, limiting leases 10 small
holders. Under that bill no one can lease
over 5000 acres Of land and no corporation
| can lease any land whatsoever, except
| after the small holders have had the rights
provided for in the bill The bill pro-
hibits the assignment Of any lease and
exceeding 1900 acres, and any freeholder
may lease ten times the amount of his
holdings, not exceeding $500 acres,
and 1t must be in the vicinity Of
| his own land. II there is not land
! enough to give him the amount
above mentioned then amount is to be pro-
rated. The leases run for a period OF Ave
| years al rental of from j to cents per
acre, according to the grade of the land.
proviso is inserted in the bill making
| the land subject to homestead, mineral or
| other entry and in case of such entry the
lease is TO be cancelled on the part thus
| entered upon. Right OF way is provided
across leased land for watering privileges
and water rights or springs and streams
are reserved for other lessees besides
those who OF right are accorded water priv
ilegss by reason Of Ieaseholds they have
serve the leasing privileges to homestead
ers and small land owners.
Charge for Use of Forest Reserve.
The Unbiased land" said Major Lacey
In speaking about his measure, which will
undoubtedly attract great attention in the
west, lis to be free to individuals and to
corporations as heretofore My bill also
provides that the secretary OF the interior
may lay per capita tax for grazing in
forest reserves Under the existing law
the secretary may issue permits free 10
grszers Of cattle, but places a limit upon
the number of cattle to be grazed. The bill |
does not change the present reserve law in
any particular. except in that the secretary
OF the interior is permitted to charge a
head tax. / am interested In this measure
and have introduced 1t with the idea OF
ascertaining the sentiment of the west, |
which is vitality interested in this question. |
| will admit that the bill does not give
large corporations or stock associations the !
rights which they have been asking con- |
gress to grant them. 1t is a bill designed |
primarily to protect the small growers of !
| cattle, and l believe, II enacted into law, |
will solve of the most vexed ques- |
tions we have to contend with as legisla-
tors
In view of the presence In Washington
of Bartlett Richards Of Nebraska one
Of the largest individual stock grow
ers OF the west, and delegation Of |
stockmen who have been here for the pur-
pose of securing legislation looking TO gem
eral land leasing. Major Lacey's bill today
is regarded as very significant Of the trend
OF public opinion upon this question.
Too Busy for Politics.
Speaking Of his recent visit to Iowa, |
Major Lacey said the state was in splendid |
condition, but farmers and citizens gener-
ally were entirely too busy to talk politics |
at this time. As to his congressional dis |
trict convention, he said It would probably |
be held after the adjournment Of congress, |
as that seemed to be the most acceptable |
time. 81 learned Of no opposition to my
denomination" said Mr.. Lacey. LAS to |
who my opponent will be l do not know |
The district is close and, as usual, / will |
have a fight on my hands, should l re-
ceve the nomination, but l have very |
great confidence In the republicans of the |
district to win out"
Senator Millard has taken np with the |
Postofice department the establishment OF |
a rural free delivery route from st. Helena, |
Cedar county, Neb., to a point opposite |
Yankton. s. d. The postmaster Of Yankton,
this route and 1t is understood the mer-
chants OF Yankton are exceedingly anxious
for 1t. in view OF the large business which |
they believe will result should It be To-
Gated. Senator Millard, in view OF the |
communications he has had from the Yank-
ton postmaster, has taken the matter up
with Senator Gamble and the two senators |
are working together with a view to Sc
curing it's location. The Postoffice depart
ment has notified the senators the matter
will be considered at the earliest possible |
moment and It is believed the establish
ment Of the route will be ordered.
Indians Get Money for Lands.
The conferees on the Indian appropria-
tion bill decided late last night to reduce
the appropriation OF $4,000 carried by the
bill for building and repair OF bridges on
the Omaha and Winnebago reservations to
$4,000 This morning Senator Millard ap-
peared before the conferees in behalf OF
the original amendment. insisting that n
the reduction. as contemplated in 1t. was
made they might just as well strike IL
out entirely, the amount proposed to
be given would be wholly inadequate for
the purposes desired. Senator Millard la
bored with the conferees. reviewing the
necessities which prompted the appropria-
tion, and the conferees. evidently appre-
ciating the senator's argument decided to
allow the original amount to stand
Senator Dietrich today recommended the
appointment OF Henry E. Langevin to be
postmaster at Curtis, Neb., vice s. r. Raze,
who has been removed on account OF
charges preferred against him as to the
manner in which he was using stamps 10
increase the salary Of his ONCE.
The tight over the Wahoo postofhce grows
In intensity as the time OF the present
postmaster nears its expiration. It is un-
derstood that there are four or FIVE candi-
dates for the place and all papers in the
way OF petitions and recommendations have
been turned over TO State Chairman Lind
sey. who II is expected, will sit as a court
in the case. transmitting his findings to
Senator Dietrich for nnal approval.
william z. Andrews auditor for the Treas
ury department, president OF the Nebraska
association OF this city. and Mrs Andrews
gave a reception tonight to members OF the
Nebraska republican club. which was very
largely attended, Senators Dietrich and
Millsrd and Representatives Burkett and
Mercer being among those present.
President Roosevelt will have another con-