Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-01-15
Live Stock Convention Desire
Laws Changed.
WANT THE HOMeSTEADS ENLARGED
Desire Expert Report on Needed
Changes in the Arid Region,
CONVENTION WILL ADJOURN TOMORROW


days session of the National Live
Stock convention many papers were
read and discussed and flood of reso-
lutions were introduced and consid-
cred. The convention will finish its
work tomorrow and will be followed
the wool growers association. at which
important action regarding the range
problem is expected.
One of the most important resolu-
tions introduced in the live stock con-
vention today sought to heal the long
standing bitterness existing between
cattlemen and sheepmen over the ques-
tion of ranges. A. r. Robertson, of
Texas, yesterday introduced resolu-
tion calling for the amendment of the
laws regulating the grazing on public
lands and approving the leasing of
such lands in states where such a
policy is desired by the people. This
was referred to the executive commit
tee and finally laid upon the table. In
it's place the following substitute reso-
lutions, prepared by cattleman and
which, it is said. is approved by sheep
men and by many of the cattlemen,
was indorsed:
Resolved, That the laws govern
ing the use of the public lands of the
United States have become outgrown
and obsolete, owing to the rapid ad-
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 set
tlement and improvement of the larg-
est possible area and provide protec-
tion to the settlers using said lands for
grazing purposes.
Resolved. That we approve the sug-
gestion of President Roosevelt in his
last annual message to congress, that
larger areas of these semi-arid lands
should be allowed for homestead,
and that commission of experts be
appointed to investigate the present
existing condition and suggest to con-
gress remedies that will be fair and
just and will build up rather than re-
tard the growth and Improvement of
the west
Resolved, That a memorial from
this convention be prepared calling the
attention of congress as briefly as pos
sible to the fact that the present land
laws encourage the destruction of the
forage upon the public lands and re-
tard improvement and settlement:
that the memorial petition congress to
adopt the suggestion of President
Roosevelt to appoint a commission of
experts to make careful investiga-
tion into the actual conditions now
prevailing and to suggest new laws
that will benefit sections Of the coun-
try, the varied and conflicting condi-
tions existing in the various sections
of the west being the principal obsta-
Gle that has prevented the stockmen
from agreeing among themselves upon
a plan for change in the laws, as the
law that would benefit one section
would cause loss ana ruin to another,
where different conditions prevailed.
Resolved, That said memorial be
prepared Immediately and presented
to the present session of congress with
an urgent appeal that action be taken
to the end that this grave question
may be settled at an early date and to
the further end that congress may not
act hastily and unadvIsedly in chang
ing the present laws until properly in
formed through its commission of ex-
perts as to the actual prevailing condi-
tions in all sections"
Several important resolutions were
adopted by the cattlemen today. One
was by j. w Robinson of Kansas, fav-
oring an amendment to the interstate
commerce law so as to grant to that
commission power TO adjust freight
rates and put into full force and effect
rulings till reversed or modified by
the courts. A resolution by G. w.
Baker, OF Illinois, reaffirming the asso-
ciation's attitude on the so-called forty
hour law which provides for the exten-
sion of time that cattle can be con-
fined in cars without unloading which
was adopted after some discussion.