Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1902-12-19
RESERVES SELF
SUPPORTING
Bills Embodying the Ideas
of Secretary Hitchcock
Introduced.
RESOURCES TO Be USED
Bills Also introduced Authoriz-
ing Rangers to Arrest People
Violating the Laws and
Bring Them to Trial.

Washington, Dec. 19.-Bills have been
introduced in both the senate and the
house along the lines recently indicated
by Secretary Hitchcock, providing for
the creation of a fund to be derived
from the sale of timber, stone and other
natural products of forest reserves, and
from leases for grazing, for hotel sites,
etc., with the view to making the forest
reserves self supporting.
Senator Perkins has introduced the
bill in the senate and says that under
present conditions the only resources of
forest reserves that may be disposed of
for a money consideration are timber,
mineral and medicinal springs. Dur
ing the fiscal year 1901, $4,000 was de-
rived from the sale of forest reserve
timber, while last year the amount
was $25,00O. There are about one and a
quarter million sheep now grazed with
in the reserves annually and 100000
horses and cattle. 1t is suggested that
charge of 5 cents per head for old
sheep and 81 per head on cattle be i'm
posed hereafter, which would bring in
an annual revenue of about $412,O00,
or SIP, 900 in excess of the amount now
annually appropriated for the care and
protection of reserves. In addition to
this he says there are many sawmills,
hotels, summer resorts, stores, etc.,
which would be glad to pay a small sum
each year.
He believes that such a system would
not only make the reserves self sup
porting, but would do much toward
winning the good will and enlisting the
cooperation of people in the states
where reserves exist.
Bills were also introduced in both
houses authorizing persons employed In
forest reserves and national parks to
arrest people violating laws and regu-'
lations relating to reserves and parks,
such persons when arrested to be ar
raigned before the nearest United
States commissioner. 1t is shown by
the authors of the bills that the present
patrol system is inadequate, because
the rangers, while they may witness
violations Of the law, are without au-
thority to bring offenders to justice and
before the proper authorities can be
brought on the scene the offender es-
capes.
The attorney general, who favors the
proposed bill, comments on the present
system of reserve protection, saying 1t
is singularly deficient In that it does
not provide any efficient means for the
arrest Of persons violating laws and
regulations governing reserves.
THE HOUSE.
Washington, Dec. 19.-Some prelimi-
nary business preceded the resumption
Of the debate on the pure food bill in
the house today.
The house passed the pure food bill.
FAVOR THE LACEY BILL.
Washington, Dec. 19.-The delegation
of cattlemen here from Nebraska to Sc
cure land leasing legislation has deci-
ded to work for the passage Of the bill
introduced at the last session by Chair
man Lacey, Of the public lands COM
mittee, providing for leasing of lands
for a term of five years at an annual
rental of from to cents per acre, ac-
cording to the value Of the land for
grazing purposes.
The Lacey bill limited such leases to
5000 acres to any one person. This
limit will be enlarged in the proposed
bill. The bill will provide that leases
shall only be made to actual homestead
settlers or freeholders whose lands are
in the vicinity Of lands to be leased by
them. The delegation expects to obtain
the approval Of the interior department
for the measure.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE..
Washington, D. C., Dec. 19.-The
house committee on interstate COM
EMERGE today ordered favorable re-
port on the department Of commerce
bill. The vote on reporting stood to
3. The provision for including the bu-
reau Of labor in the new department
was retained on tie vote.
PANAMA TREATY DEFERRED.
Washington, Dec. determination
Of the Panama canal treaty with Col
ombia has again been moved into the
future and it is now said that no treaty
can be expected before Christmas and
probably not until the beginning Of
next year.
CURRENCY BILL REPORTED.
Washington, Dec. 19.-The house
committee on banking and currency to-