, 1905-12-18

~ second meeting of the people of
Albany county interested in the effort
of the Laramie Commercial club. Sen
ator Warren and Congressman Mon
dell to have the forestry bureau of
the department of agriculture annul
its order fixing grazing charges on the
forest reserves of the state of Wyo-
ming will be held at the city hall
here next Saturday afternoon. The
first meeting was held a little more
than a week ago, when a committee
was appointed to send kilograms of
protest to the forester, Hon. Clifford
Pinchot, and to Senators Warren and
Clark and Congressman Mondell. The
committee also drafted pertinent reso-
buttons, which were printed in these
columns and copies sent to the Wash
ington authorities. Mr.. Gramm, the
president Of the Commercial club, sent
the following telegram:
Laramie, Wyo., Dec. 9.-The Com
mercial club of Laramie protests
against the grazing fee on the Medi-
cine Bow reserve as announced by
the forestry department, believing it
unjust. Will you use your influence
to abolish it,"
Later he received the following let
ter from Mr.. Mondell:
Washington, d. c., Dec. II, 1905.
Hon. Otto Gramm, Laramie, Wyo.
My Dear Gramm:I received your
telegram yesterday, as follows: Com
mercial club of Laramie protests
against the grazing fee on Medicine
Bow reserve, as announced by forestry
department, believing it unjust. Will
you use your influence to abolish it,"
This morning l called OF Mr.. Pin
chot, chief forester, and went over
with him the question of grazing OF
reserves. This is by no means my
first talk with Mr.. Pinchot on the sub
ject, as / have had it up with him on
a number of occasions. Last winter
two different house bills relative to
forest reserves were so amended in
the senate as to contain language
which would have given the depart
ment specifically the right to charge
for grazing n the reserves. Being on
the conference committee, l was able
to have the language so changed as
to contain nothing which would give
the right, direct or indirect, to make
this charge. An attempt was made
later to so amend the agricultural bill
in the house as to grant the right to
the secretary of agriculture to charge
for grazing on the reserves. Being on
sition to this class of legislation being
known to members of the committee
on agriculture, | was called in con-
sultation before the bill was reported.
and again had he language to which l
objected stricken out, or rather pre-
vented having it embodied as a part
of the reported bill. After congress
adjourned, however, the secretary OF
agriculture asked the attorney general
for an opinion as to whether the sec
rotary had the right to charge for the
grazing privilege on the reserves, ana
the attorney generals opinion on that
subject you will find in the pamphlet
relating to the use of forest reserves,
which | send herewith.
Last spring when l met Mr.. Pinchot
in the west, after the attorney e n
erals opinion had been rendered, at
tempted to get him to change his
views relative to the charge for graz
ing, at least at this time, but further
than securing his promise that the
matter would be given further consld'
Grafton. and that the interests OF the
people of Wyoming would be especial
l.: .a;.I I u-ac nnoh1d 10 get
him to change his views in the matter.
Among other things, l urged that, IL
the department was determined 10
charge for the grazing privilege, the
charge should be so nominal thaI II
would. under no circumstances, De a
burden. and that sufficient addluohal
nrivileges be granted to more than OH
cot II possible the burden OF the graz
ing fee. In my talk with Mr.. Plncho'
tbis morning he conveyed the impress
sion to me that the department was
fully determined that a small charse
.bonld he made for the grazing PRIV
i,eoe discussed with him then inc
question of prices and additional PRIV
Hayes which should be granted In the
reseryes. Mr.. Pinchot SAID tnat thes
had about determined that, SO lar az
wyoming was concerned. the hrst lo'
head of cattle grazed by only one per
~ sbould he charged for at half thu
usual fee. and any number owheu y.
a single individual above lou neaa y
be charged the full amount OF the ZEE
I called his attention to the sho.'
ness of the grazing season in the s,a',
and I suggested that the zee VIM,
they proposed to charge be lowereo
both In the case of sheep n cattie
and Mr.. Pinchot promised me that Uni
matter would be given further consic
GRAFTON. Their present idea Is u
charge in Wyoming 20 cents a hea