The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-01-20
LAWS OBSOLETE AND SHOULD
BE REPEALED.
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS
Efforts to Be Made to Heal Bitter.
ness Between sheepmen
and CattIemen.

Kansas City, Jan. 15.-At the third
days session of the national livestock
convention, many papers were read
and discussed and a flood of resolu-
tons were introduced and considered.
The convention will finish it's work
tomorrow and will be followed on
Saturday by the annual meeting Of
the Wool Growers association, at
which important action regarding
the range problem is expected.
One of the most complete resolu-
lions introduced in the livestock con-
vention today sought to heal the long
standing bitterness existing between
the cattlemen and sheepmen over
the question of ranges. A. r. Robert
son of Texas had yesterday introduced
a resolution calling for the amend
ment of the laws regulating the graz
ing on public lands and approving
the leasing Of such lands in states
where such a policy is desired by
the people. This raj referred to the
executive committee and finally laid
upon the table. In it's place the fol-
lowing substitute resolution, prepared
by a cattleman and which it is said
is approved by the sheepmen and
by many of the cattlemen was en-
dorsed:
Say Laws Are Obsolete.
Resolved, That the laws govern
ing the use of public lands of the
United States have become outgrown
and obsolete, owing to the rapid adj
vance of civilization and we believe
that the time has come when congress
should take action looking toward
laws that will recognize the changed
conditions and will encourage the
settlement and improvement of the
largest area, and provide protection
to the settlers using said lands for
grazing purposes.
Resolved, That we approve the
suggestion of President Roosevelt in
his last annual message to congress
that larger areas of these semi-arid
lands should be allowed for a home
stead, and that a commission of ok
perts be appointed to investigate
the present existing conditions and
suggest to congress the remedies
that will build up rather than retard
the growth and improvement of the
west.
Resolved, That a memorial from
this convention to congress be prepar.
ed, calling the attention of congress
to the fact that the present laws en-.
courage the destruction of the forage
upon the public lands and retard i'm
provement and settlement; that the
memorial petition congress to adopt
the suggestion of President Roose'
vent to appoint a commission of eX
perts to make a careful investigation
into the actual conditions now pre-
vailing and to suggest new laws
that will benefit all sections of the
country, the varied and conflicting
conditions existing in various sec
tons of the west being the principal
obstacle that has prevented the stock
men from agreeing among themselves
,nOo a r1on for q ahonOo in tho Ia VIC
as the law that would benefit one sec
ton would cause loss and ruin tC
another where different conditions
prevailed.
Must Settle 1t Now.
Resolved, That said memorial be
prepared Immediately and present
ed to the present session of congress
with an urgent appeal that action be
taken to the end that these grave
questions may be settled at an early
date and to the further end that con
gress may not act hastily in changing
present laws until properly informed
through it's commission of experts
as to the actual prevailing conditions
in all sections
Among the addresses at the morn
ing session was one by Hon. William
NJ. Springer of Washington, D. c.
on 'The Proposed Merging of the
Packing Plants of This Country ant
the Effects and Remedy" and by
DIR. w. H. Dalemple of Louisiana, or
"Infectious Diseases and Their Pre-
vention." C. E. Abbott of Springer
N. NJ, and Senator Warren of Wyom
ing, president of the National Wool
growers association, also addressed
p the delegates at the morning session