Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-16
SEEK GRAZING LANDS
tcoutinued from First Page.)

! dlSu tSoth INC muI mug etSolbhs
Land for Grazing.
Among the speakers at the afternoon
session were r. c. Jacobsen OF Illinois.
whose topic was "The Destruction Of Hides
by Marbles" and Colonel John p. Irish
Of California, who led the discussion on the
subject, THE Changes Congress Should
Make in the Laws Governing the Public
Domain and Forest Reserves"
Mr.. Irish said in part:
The campaign of education begun by
this association at its meeting In Fort
Worth and actively prosecuted by various
live stock organiEau9ns In the west has
The country is better Informed than ever
before as to the conditions which are
duction of cattle and sheep. That pro-
duction was In the semi-arid ranges of tho
west. where II is estimated there are 4OO,-
100000 acres for which grazing will be tho
sole use. It is the largest and was the
best stock range in the world. It's forage
has been destroyed and its potential wealth
corners.
About that vast range the east has held
totally incorrect ideas. To the eastern
mind IT. has appeared az equal to the
prairie lands of the upper Mississippi
steader.
OnIy Fit for Ranges.
Thanks to the light shed abroad by the
lished that this grazing domain, the prop
n nn other Sf a" use sn tbaPn e1pie ra mas 9 for e %IlL ave
herds. 1t Is nearly fed ont. The range in
dustry Is in a death struggle. The at
lawfully fencing In the public domain, and
the more Teprehensible attempt of others
to command the range with the rife, must
in charity be accepted as the desperate
methods for survival of an industry that
has conferred vast benefits upon the ma
ton. But the government must govern.
1t would deserve the contempt even of
the beneiciaries Of its neglect to enforce
law If 1t permitted monopoly OF the COM
mon property by unlawful Enclosure.
The government should retain public
fG Forage bg le ea me IT. range in suitable n ! pf tpSets. i to
the hardy men who occupy II, understand
1t and will take measures TO renew it's
for carrying stock.
The measure now before congress was
cussiOn Of this policy. It was mistaken "a as
subject in its broadcast scope, and to en-
phasize some principles that are indis-
pensable in any such legislation. =
The homesteader, the mineral entry man
and the irrigator are by that measure
given rights superior to those of the lease
holder; The present agricultural settler
fnI bhe i NECESSARY Hom To- t6eir welfare a 7 given se9
intended to promote the settlement of every
acre upon which a home can be maintained
by agriculture. These features are insisted
on in good faith by every western stock
man.
Roosevelt Understand Conditions.
We may count ourselves happy that the
country has a western man for president.
born here. He has a keen and intimate
knowledge of the physical and social and
where our homes and treasures are.
He appreciates the difficulties in the way
Of that comprehensive reform of land laws
that will add to the range as a distinct
class and put its potential wealth under
the protection of the law.
He rQRnnmandl that the faQH ~ dofp1
this be given over to an expert commits
sion. which will naturally report its conclu-
sions in the form of an act of congress.
We should here support the president in
seeking such a commission. Let congress
susTestIon will ISSUE The greatest and bapo
piest result that has ever followed land
legislation since the republic became the
greatest land owner on the planet.
Adjustment of Freight Rates.
Several important resolutions presented
at tho morning session were adopted,
most OF them without discussion.
One by J. W. Robinson Of Kansas favored
an amendment to the interstate m
law in such a way as to grant to the In
t~erstate Commerce commission power to
adjust freight rates after they have been
found to be unequal or unjust, and power
to put into full force and effect it's rulings
and decisions, which shall stand until re-
versed or modified by the courts.
President Springer, commenting on the
above resolution, said that at present the
FIVE members of the commission cost the
government 5000, 900 a year, and yet they
have never been able to enforce one OF their
own orders. This resolution he said, was
for the purpose Of remedying that condi-
tion.
A resolution offered by c. w. Baker of
Illinois, reafirming the live stock associa-
- a. go - II - haNnH
law, which provides for an extension of the
time to forty hours in which cattle can be
confined in cars without unloading, caused
some opposition.
A Utah delegate asserted that the resolu-
tion was backed by the railroads, and that
1t favored them. What stockmen wanted,
he said, was for the railways to expedite
their shipments; they already delayed them
too long. President Springer resented this
statement, and declared that the resolution
had originated in the Texas Cattle a%ssocia-
2 ton, and that It was. supported by the states
producing the greatest number of cattle.
The resolution was adopted by a close vote,
Foot and Mouth Disease.
A resolution drawn up by the executive
: committee congratulates the bureau Of ami
Z NAL industry for its success in stamping
out the foot and mouth diseases among cat
: tie in New England and indorses the method
used.
. 1t also congratulates Secretary Wilson and
= DR.. Salmon, chief OF the bureau, for theiI
U efforts in building up the live stock in
dustry.
During the discussion over the resolution
| which was adopted unanimously. one dele
. gate stated that the bureau would have
J been justified in killing every animal in
e New England to eradicate the disease.
. A resolution indorsing Senator william
d A.. Harris OF Kansas for appointment as a
member Z. the isthmian canal commission
, was adopted, as was one indorsing the Pen.
] rose bill providing for the improvement oil
horses for general purposes by breeding
. along approved lines.
During the discussion on this resolution