Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-14
TO LEASE GRAZING LANDa
Provisions Of the Bill introduced by
Senator Dietrich

A bill to authorize the leasing of grazing
lands in Nebraska which is expected by the
administration to settle the trouble over
the unlaw fencing Of public lands in that
state was agreed on yesterday by Secretary
hitchcock Of the Interior Department and
Senator Dietrich. acting for the Nebraska
delegation. and was introduced In the Sem
ate later by Mr.. Dietrich. II the present
measure proves wise the law subsequently,
VIII be given a wider application 1t was
tac1tly agreed at a recent conference that
any measure acceptable to the Secretary of
the Interior and the Nebraska delegation
would be favorabfy considered by the COM
mittees of Congress and would be likely to
pass Congress.
The Secretary Of the Interior Is author
lied to lease for grazing purposes for such
advance annual rental. upon such terms,
Witn SUCH restrictions, In such quantities,
rot exceeding twenty sections in any single
tease. and for not exceeding ten years. as
snail seem reasonable such of the public
lands in Nebraska as are valuable only for
grazing purposes and are not capable Of
irrigation Not more than one lease shall
pe maoe to the same person. and no lease
snail be transferable. except with the ap-
prevail of the Secretary of the Interior So
far as practicable actual and bona flde
homestead settlers and owners of private
amos shall have preference in leasing the
ADJOINING public lands. and where two or
more such settlers or private owners are
DESTROYS of leasing the same adjoining pub
lie lands the latter shalt be eQuitably APP
portfoned among them. So long as any
lessee complies with the terms of his lease
ne may tnclose the land embraced in It
and shall be entitled to its exclusive use
Tor grazing purposes: bur the lands en-
oraced In any lease shall. Notwithstanding
the lease. continue to be subject to settle
ment. entry and acquisition by qualified
persons who In good faith 70 upon them
Tor the purpose OF settlement and resi-
dence
Every lessee and every transferee Of any
lease shall be required to agree In writing
that he will not. directly or Indirectly, vio-
late any OF the provisions OF the act of
Congress entitled IAN act to prevent I'M
lawful occupancy OF the public lands" APP
proved February Is. 1855.
The rentals Of leased lands, after deduct
ing the expense of administering the act.
shall be annually disposed Of under the d.
rect1on of the Secretary of the Interior as
follows: One-fourth to the state of Ne
braska. one-fourth to the county in which
the leased land lies, and one-half to be
credited, in the United States treasury to
the reclamation fund established under an
act of Congress, entitled AN act appro-
priating the receipts from the sale and dis
posal of public lands in certain states and
territories to the construction of irrigation
works for the reclamation of arid lands"
approved June II, 1902.
The purpose Of this act is to provide for
the economic use Of public lands in the
state Of Nebraska which are adapted only
to grazing purposes, to encourage the inn
therein. and to determine whether a sys-
tenn of leasing public lands of this character
may be justly and advantageously inaugu-
rated and maintained.