Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-01-20
BOTH RECORD THEIR OBJECTIONS TO II
Small Raisers Prefer Homestead Bill with
Increased Amount Of Land
LEASING GIVES BIG GROWERS ADVANTAGE
Larger Interests File Objections, but Stand
for Lease Principle,
DOES NOT PROTECT VESTED INTERESTS
Also Puts TOO Much Power in Hands
of Secretary of Interior and
Opens the Door 10 Fraud
uIent Entries.

ALLIANCE. Neb, Jan. 1s.-(spocial Tele-
gram AT the stockmen's meeting this
evening there we're present representatives
from every county in western Nebraska
and the meeting was of one mind in regard
to the Dietrich bill for leasing public
grazing lands OF Nebraska. The unani-
nous sentiment Of the men in the meeting
was that the proposed bill is pornicious in
that it leaves to the discretion OF tho
secretary Of the interior che entire ques-
tion Of whether the lands shall be leased
or not, also the time for which they may
be leased aud the rental for the same
The meeting adopted the following reso-
lutions,
We, the stockmen OF western Nebraska,
In convention assembled in Alliance, Neb.
on the 18th day of January. 1903, and con-
Eisting of delegates representing Alliance,
Shadron, Rushville. Gordon. Hay Springs,
Mitchell, Sidney. Chappell. ogalalla,
worth. Mullen, Thedford, Cleman, Orlando,
Central City and the entire western part of
Nebraska, to consider the land leasing bill
now before the congress of the United
states, and known as senate file No. 6SS6.
introduced by Senator Dietrich; that while
adequate leasing bill and have been work
ing for some such bill for years past to cor
rect the almost intolerable evils of the
present very unsatisfactory system, yet
we cannot approve the proposed bill. We
are unalterably in favor of leasing, but are
constrained to oppose the senate bill for
the following reasons, to-wit:
j. There is no fixed rental.
2 Il offers premium to speculative and
fraudulent entries.
g. There is no limit to the life of the lease
except that 1t shall not exceed ten years.
T. There Is no provision protecting the
vested interest Of those now engaged in the
stock business.
s. That the proposed bill puts too much
into the handa n maj IN nrrX
ing out its provisions
Therefore be it Resolved, That we ap.
prove that portion of President Roosevelts
message which recommends to congress thi
appointment OF committee 70 investigate
the public lands and urgently request con
gress to authorize the president to appoin
a committee to fully investigate the con0I
saans lands 20 Of i az and dnG pendn RSR
such investigation and report to congress
no no fur further action be taken That eoPls
OF the United states and to the senator
and members Of congress from Nebraski
and to the secretary OF the interior.
committee was appointed, composed o
former Senator J. R, vanBoskirk, Stat
Representative Frank Currie, Representa-
tive George c. McAllister. Senator w. c
Brown, John e. Evans Of North Platte, A
S. Reed Of Alliance. to wait upon the Ne
hraska legislature and lay their views be
fore that body, also before the state senat
and before Governor Mickey and reques
that the Dietrich bill be not recommends
by them.
small Men for HOmesteads.
THEDFoRD. Neb, Jan. 1s.-(special.) J.
At called meeting OF the Thomas Count
Stockmen's association the following reso
lutions were passed unanimously:
whereas, There is now pending in cor
RreSS Dill, the object of which is hOl
the government lands now in the stat
OF Nebraska subject TO lease; and,
Whereas, II said bill becomes a law
will virtually destroy the rights. privilege
and benefits derived from the homestea
act, annulling the same, TO the extent thi
the homeseeker cannot go onto the pibI
domain and take government lands wit
OF his labors, or that he will. in any suf
cient measure, be protected from the hero
that are roaming at large on leased lanC
surrounding him; and,
Whereas, The passage Of such law di
courages the homesteader and destroy
the spirit and intent of the homestead ac
which has brought TO the human family
, multitude of blessings; an act which hi
made II possible for hundreds OF thousan,
that were homeless, by complying with 1
wise provisions, TO make for themselves al
families happy homes; and,
Whereas, We believe that with prop
amendment, providing a sufficiently larl
acreage In the homestead. that fami
may be maintained thereon. that all
the public domain will be rapidly TAX,
by ac,ual home builders. thus extendlI
the benehcent provisions OF said law: and
Whereas. We believe the average stoc
man, with a small herd would be mu,
better provided for under such condition
and would not, in most instances, at leai
bill to properly protect himself and
account Of failure to do so would
crowded out by the speculator and lar
stockmen, and forced TO abandon his chos
pursuit, the raising of stock and pFeparil
them for the markets Of the world; and,
Whereas, We believe the whole leash
scheme Is wrong In theory and princiT
and can only prove disappointing in pra
Resolved Tha: we admonish congre
and the senate TO guard with great care I
sacred rights OF the homeless and to e
these lands, and thereby enable this ella
20 increase their comforts, educate tn
children and make advancement in I
onward march OF progress and prosperl
Resolved, That We are opposed 10 I
proposed lease bill. and any and all lea
bills, for the reasons stated, and we me
earnestly appeal 20 our senators and repi
sentatiVes In congress TO use every enc
possible TO secure the defeat Of said lea
Resolved, In the language OF the pre-
dents message That because OF the p'
version and misuse Of the commutati
clause of the homestead law. and to
end that the remaining public lands be h
who lives on his land and for no one els,
we most earnestly request that said clal
be repealed, and that the law be amend
so that the acreage included I'm a hon
stead be made 10 embrace ], $50, or two 5,
tions of land; and
Whereas. The law has heretofore d
eliminated In favor OF the one who b
commuted. OF reinquished his homestei
giving him an additional homestead rig
and against the actual settler who Il
made his home upon the land for peri
: Of hVe years. and,
Whereas He would In most instani
have been unable to do without the Il
use OF the yet vacant land; therefore
a further
Resolved. That we urge that said I
be amended so as 10 give an addition
ll2O acres 70 all homesteaders west of
iOOth meridian in Nebraska, whose hon
steads have been their actual residence
iVe years or who. having initiated "A cla
stin abide thereon. and will continue 10
so for the full period Of the law. All
which we most sincerely submit. praY
that the rights OF the people In the pull
domain shall not be taken from them,
be preserved as common blessing.
j. II. EDMISTEN, Presiden
T. ID. ROBERTS. Secretary.