Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-24
Governor Thinks FavOrably of the Recon-
mendatiOn of President.
BETTER TO GO SLOW THAN TO Be WRONG
Commission Gould Investigate and Then
Act Intelligently,
ELECTION BILL PASSES BOTH HOUSES
Measure Changing Date OF Election
TO May Now Awaits the sigma
ture of Governor 60 He
come a Law.
CFrom a Stan Correspondent)

C'rom Stan Correspondent)
LINCOLN. Jan. 23. - Especial l)-Gov-
ernor Mickey has placed himself on record
as opposed to the Dietrich land leasing
bill, now pending before congress. The
Nebraska Legislature is about to record It's
sentiment on this paramount question and
there is every reason to believe Il will be
in accord with that of the governor
The governor sent to the house and SEN
ate today his communication on this bill
AS was forecasted in The Bee, II was
against the measure. Instead of recon-
mending that the legislature memorializc
congress to pass the bill, as the Nebraska
congressional delegation had petitioned
the governor to do, the chief executive
commended the plan of President Roose-
welt. that commission Of experts be ap-
pointed to investigate the conditions of
leasing and fencing grazing lands and re-
port its findings
Governor Mickey recognizes the grave
necessity for some kind Of action on this
important question, but he is evidently
OF the opinion that the action sought in
the Dietrich bill will not meet the require-
ments and exigencies of the occasion, for he
says THE plan as outlined In the bill
and the conditions incident to the leasing
of said lands are so novel in their char
honored custom"
The governor does, however, urge the
legislature to memorialize congress, but
for the purpose and In such manner as will
indicate to the national body of law
makers the attitude Of the people OF Ne
braska toward this proposition. The mes
sage as it was transmitted to both houses
today follows
Message on LeaHe Bill.
AS your honorable body is well aware a
bill is now pending in congress, known as
senate file No. 6Ss6 and instroduced by our
senior senator, Hon. Charles H. Diet-ich.
public lands within the state of Nebraska
as are in their natural condition valuable
re not o %Ss p9S S
SiGent ted to the, the Leasing O said lands are 50
tradiction to ume-honored custom that the
proposed legislation has attracted general
attention throughout the state and has oc-
casioned much comment. both favorable
and unfavorable. On January 1S received
from Washington copy of the bill. ac-
tire congressional delegation. This petition
REQUESTS that l call the attention of your
legislation, to the end that you may take
such action as will indi 'ate TO our senator's
state in the premises The matters Involved
are of great concern, not only to that por-
ton OF the state wherein the grazing lands
are situated but to all other sections as
well, and IL is therefore most fitting that
the legislature should memorialize congress
on the subject. herewith transmit % you
for your cOnsidera ton copy of the BILL a
copy of the petition from our congressional
delegation, two sets of resolutions adopted
by the stoCkmen of western Nebraska and
the correspondence received by this office
relative 20 the matter. In his recent mes
mended the appointment of a commission
of experts TO investigate the conditions ef-
lands and to make report Of its fndings.
Such course, while II would delay imme-
diate action, would, in my judgment, AFFORD
settlement of the perplexing questions In
volved as TO make the plan most desirable.
| trust that you will confer with the con-
current branch of the legislature and adopt
such joint resolution as will indicate TO our
senators and representatives In congress
the land leasing bill. AS the measure is
now pending before the short session OF
congress the necessity for expeditions ac-
ton is apparent.
The house voted TO take up the message
as a special order at p. m. Monday and
the senate referred 1t to a committee.
In Line with Governor.
There seems to be no question whatever
but that the legislature will sustain the
wishes and recommendations of the gov
ernor. The sentiment in this direction and
against lne DltlTlCn Dllls WHICH 10 TefOk-
nized by many to have been drawn up
largely in accordance with the advice OF
Secretary Hitchcock Of the Interior depart
ment is decidedly and notably strong. The
house, with its hfty-ive farmers, is even
more inimical to the measure than the SEN
ate but in the latter body the sentiment
is considered strong enough to defeat any
plan to secure an Endorsement OF the bill.
With the emphatic disapproval and re-
lection OF the governor and both branches
Of the legislature Of the great stocl--raising
state OF Nebraska, the chances OF success
for this bill manifestly and admittedly will
be seriously diminished, as the friends OF
the measure plainly recognize. Had Gov
ernor Mickey acceded to the request Of
Nebraska's senators and representatives in
Washington and urged the legislature TO
take favorable action on the Dietrich bill
and the legislature needed the governors
recommendations It certainly would have
been a pronounced boom for the bill in
Washington, but as things stand. the out
look is not encouraging for those who want
this measure enacted into law.
IL will be OF interest In connection with
this bill to note this provision extracted
from It:
That the secretary OF the interior be
authorized. in his discretion, 10 lease for
I'VE STOCK grazing pIIportHs AoI HuNH Hl-
nual rental, upon such terms, with such
restrictions I'm such quantities, not eX-
ceeding twenty sections In any sigle lease,
and for such time, not exceeding a period
Of ten years as 10 him shall seem reason
able, such OF the public lands within the
state OF Nebraska are In their natural
condition valuable only for live stock graz
ing purposes and are not capable OF irri-
CATION.
Il further provides that the lessee may
fence land, but that Il shall be still liable
10 entry for homestead purposes.
Railroad FaVOrs Kansas Bill.
The Union Pacific Railroad company Is
making strenuous efforts to induce the en-
action by the Nebraska legislature OF tho
proposed revenue bill now pending before
the Kansas legislature. This bill IL thor
oughly endorsed and approved by that cor
poration. II is held by this great public
servant 10 embOdy the only correct theory