Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-12-27
CONTROL OF
GRAZING LAND
GILL FOR ESTABLISHMENT Of
GRAZING DISTRICTS AND -.
SUE OF LEssEEs.
STILL OPEN TO ENTRY
STATE BOARDS TO COOPERATE
WITH Y. 8. GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS.

Washington, d. C.-Scnator Bnrkett
OF Nebraska on Saturday has intro
duced bill. which has the approval
OF the secretary OF the interior ana
Forester Pinchot. TO provide for Gov
ernment control of vacant grazing
lands rcmainin. In states and terri
tories.
The principal provisions OF the bill
are ms follows:
The President Ii authorized TO es'
tabllsh by proclamation grazing dis'
tricts 10 be placed under charge of the
secretary OF agriculture. who shai'
prescribe rules and regulations for
their control and appoint officers nee
essary for their protection and admin
istrution.
Tn. secretary shall Issue permits to
rrnx. livestock In the districts Tor pc
RODS of not more than ten years. CIV.
ing preference To homcst"adcrs ana
present occupants ana ranchmcn VINO
own improved ranches. or who have
provided water for livestock srascu
on public lands aud shall charge ana
collect reasonable fees FOR such Efux'
Ing permits based upon the grazing
yaiu. Of the land.
The bill provides that the governor
OF "a stat. or territory may appoint
committee Of not more than four mem
bcrs from uS.rR Of such sraxins dis'
lrici. who with an ofiiecr appointed
by the secretary Of agriculture To tnkc
charge of the district. shall constitute
an executive board. which shall DE-
sh la. NJ
sued upon nm acreage. or per capita
basis. or community aiio,mcnts. and
also ..,crmin. the number OF animals
to bc sraEcd In each district when
placed upon per capita basis. and
adopt special rules To meet local con-
diiionR, The secretary OF agriculture
shall dccid. In case Of n difference b.
tween a majority of the board ana
the officers in charge.
The bIii provides that lands within
grazing districts shall be continually
subject To homestead entry. but that
after the establishment of any district
no form of location. or entry thereon.
shall Eiyc right of grazing. except
when made under laws requiring cul'
tivaiiun. or agricultural use of land.
aud that permits shall not he affected
by subsequent appropriation of such
land until the cnd Of the current an
nuai grazing period: aiso that no per
mi, shall be issued which will cn,itlc
cnirymCn to III. uar of Improved land
owned by n prior occupan, until paid
for at q reasonable valuation.
Grazing lands shall continue subject
to mineral entry aud persons shall
have th. right TO move livestock
across rented lands under restrictions
In pfp,g grf l.epCgR
The secretary of agriculture may
set aside not more than three per cent
Of the public lands in any district for
tho use Of schools. churches. state or
county buildings.
Present water laws shall no, bo
changed. The bill also provides that
the secretary Of agriculture shall nS
the establishment Of ErazinE dis.
triet. after which grazing Of livestock
In such district without permit shall
be punishable by finc Of not lcss
than SO. or more than $1,000. OF by
Imprisonment Of not less than ton
days. or more than one year. or by
both fine and imprisonment. at the dis
crction of the court. The bill provides
s2s0.ooo for the payment Of the OK.
pcnscs necessary TO put the act into
effect. Ten per ccn,um Of all money
received from rentals shall be paid
TO the state. or territory In which they
are collected. TO be expended as the
state or territorial legislature may
prescribe for the benefit of county or
counties in which the grazing distric,
IL situated