The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-12-22
NEW POLICY OF FORESTRY b.
REAU WILL BE FOUGHT BY
coNGREssMEN.
Western Representatives Working to
Have Fee System of Grazing on
Reserves Abolished.

Commencing January the forestry
bureau will organize new policy with
reference to grazing sheep and cattle
in forest reserves says a Washington
head will be charged for the grazing
of livestock in the reserves. It is
proposed to charge cents per head
for sheep and 25 cents per head for
cattle during the season.
This new policy lis meeting will
vigorous opposition from the western
senators and representatives. Repre-
sentative Mondell of Wyoming, called
on the chief forester and entered
vigorous protest against the proposed
change
He insisted that it was contrary tc
established custom, a new departurr
that the public lands Of the United
States had always been consg dered
as belonging to the general public AMI
for free use for grazing purposes
In this he was joined by Senator
Warren, VINO entered the office of the
chief forester while Mr. Mondell was
protesting the proposed change. For
ester Pinchot informed them that the
policy had practically been adopted
and that it was useless to protest fur.
ther.
Then if such a policy is to be
adopted" continued the representa-
tive, Il trust that you will make the
rates reasonable"
1--WE have about decided to charge
cents per head for sheep and rs
cents per head for CATTLE" replied For
ester Pinchot.
Il think that is unreasonable" pro-
tested Mr. Mondell. in Wyoming,
| in the mountain section, where yoL
be grazed for a period of two and one
half months during the year; cattle
can only be grazed from three to four
months. To subject the people Of
Wyoming, where the season is short.
to the same grazing charges as the
people of other states would be unrea-
sonable"
T! Mr.. Pinchot finally said that he be-
! lieved it would be practicable to re-
duce the fee one-half in regard to tn,
| first 100 head of cattle grazed by a
| stockman in a reserve, but that the
full fee would be charged on any num-
Der in excess of 100.
Mr.. Mondell then insisted that 21a
cents per head for sheep and 10 cents
for cattle would be a reasonable fee
anywhere in the west The chief Of
| the forestry division stated that he
would take this matter under &C
| Grafton.
Senator Warren also Endorsed the
suggestion Of Congressman Mondell.
The necessity for this fee, as ex-
planned by Forester Pinchot, is to in
crease the revenues of the govern
ment for forestry purposes, and at the
same time give greater security to
livestock men using the forest re-
serves for the grazing Of their herds
He explained that considerable rev.
| enue could be raised from the charg-
! ing of SUCH a fee, and that the gov
eminent would then give grazing
leases Or permits up to the full past
urage capacity of each reserve; that
those obtaining permits to Craze sheep
and cattle the first year would have
preference right in future years and
that it would give them greater secu-
rity in providing pasture for their
herds in the future than they had at
present.
The representatives and senators
from Montana, Idaho, Washington,
! Oregon and other forest reserve
states will enter similar protests, and
! they hope that by concerted action the
fee may be minimized.
|, The right of the secretary Of agrf-
culture to impose such a fee, it is
claimed, is doubtful. During the last
congress he attempted on three diff
ferent occasions to secure legislation
giving him authority to charge fees
| for using the public domain for pas
turage purposes. Each time congress-
man Mondell defeated the amend
ments to the appropriation bills, he be-
ing on the committee on conference
| and succeeded in striking out the
amendments in conference. After
congress adjourned last March the
secretary called on the attorney gen.
eral for an opinion as to his right to
charge a fee under the existing law.
Attorney General Knox rendered an
opinion in which he held that the Sec