Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-28

port on the conditions Of leasing and
fencing lands.
The house simply and plainly rejected the
Dietrich bill by adopting a resolution to
this effect by Jones Of Otoe, which also
provided for the Endorsement Of President
Roosevelt's plan as recommended by Gov
ernor Mickey.
A. s. Reed OF Alliance, director of the Ne
braska Stock Growers association and one OF
the committee who went to Washington to
work against the Dietrich bill, was here
today and took special delight in the ac-
ton OF the legislature. Mr.. Reed gave an
outline OF the three grazing land bills pro-
posed, the Lacey bill, by Congressman La
cey Of Iowa; the Dietrich bill and the
stock growers bill. The three harmonized
in this one respect. that the rental proceeds
shall be apportioned one-fourth to the
state, one-fourth 10 the county and one
half to the irrigation fund. The Lacey and
stockmen's bills are substantially identical
and either is satisfactory to tho Nebraska
stock ~raisers. The essential point Of diff
ference between these bills and that OF
Senator Dietrich is that the former fixed
a definite rental price, while the latter left
this and all other vital matters TO the sec
rotary OF the interior. This was the OBJ
poxious feature of the Dietrich measure.
The stockmen's bill provided for rent
ing not more than 10000 acres Of grazing
land to any one person and from l to 4
cents per acre, and the Lacey bill not
more than twenty sections and from l to
A6 cents.
Prospective Revenue.
1T think II the stockmen's bill were
passed It would net to the irrigation fund
annually S135. 900. as there are 9,OOO,OOO
acres OF this land. II thrown open to
homestead the land would not produce as
great irrigation revenue as that would
bring in but $40 for each entry" said Mr..
Reed.
Secretary Hitchcock told us he thought
this Nebraska land ought to be as valuable
as the Oklahoma land which rented for %
cents an acre. But, we explained to him
his mistake-that Oklahoma land is good
for farming, while ours Is nothing but
grazing land, ! have petitions against the
Dictrich bill signed by 200 or 300 big and
little cattle-growers OF the state. l want
to add that in Washington We secured
the promises of Senators Willard and Diet
rich and Representatives Stark, Burkett
and Shallenberger to support the Lacey
bill, but when the two senaors found the
bill did not meet Secretary Hitchcock's
approval they refused to keep their prom
Use. But the entire matter is dead 80 far
as this congress is concerned"
Telephone Legislation.
Warner Of Dakota In the senate today in.
troduced a resolution to have a committed
of Ave appointed to investigate and report
on different telephone rates In different
cities and towns throughout Nebraska
This Is done to facilitate the interests o.
the Independent telephone companies. War
ner is recognized as a friend Of this fac
tion.
A Bell telephone man says in his opinion
the independents bill will pass the legis
lature, but that a compromise will be ef
fected. II think that concessions will b.
made allowing the Bell company to oper
ate In certain cities in the state where tn
independents have been unable to get in,
he says. "If the Bell people gain thi
point they will be willing, / believe, to lie
the bill admitting their rivals to omahi
and Lincoln pass. l believe the fight will
come out that way"
Legislative Gossip.
"The presence in the house of Mr.. Ken
needy from omaha disposes of one yer
serious controversy" said a prominen
member today. 1--WE have had great troubl
in trying to determine who was our hand
soonest man; the honor was conceded t