Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1907-06-21
NATION MUST Be
CONSIDERED FIRST
UtterdnCe by. Which He JuStifleS
Course in Handling Public
Lands Resolutions as
Adopted by COnven-
ton at Denver.

Denver, Colo, June 21.-The Pub
lie Land convention, after three days
debate, came to an end last night
with a series of resolutions, which,
while they are stamped with disap-
proval of the land policy of President
Roosevelt in most of its phases. were
moderate in tone, although firm in
the demand for a modification of the
Administrations policy In speaking
of the convention, Secretary of the
Interior Garfield, who attended every
session, said today that the federal
officials, who attended the conven-
ton, had learned much from hearing
at first hand the complaints of the
people of the west He said:
Favors Leasing.
What we ourselves had to say was
of secondary Importance but we were
glad to hear and consider the honest
differences of opinion.
Until something better is offered,
however, l shall favor the leasing on
permit system for grazing on public
lands, but no system is perfect, and
as we can find our way to better
ments from time to time, they will
be gladly accepted.
Nation First
"As to the irrigation of your San
Luis valley lands, it may be possible
" UlOulIy the Dul
further investigation will be requir-
ed.
Already the government has re-
stored for filing, large areas in the
forest reserves and in the coal land
properties, so that the service is on a
pretty good basis
THE nation is bigger than any
state and it's interests must be first
considered"
The Resolutions.
The resolution over which there
was the most dispute in the conven-
ton, read: I'VE oppose any change
in the existing laws and customs as
to grazing live stock. upon the pub
lie domain, outside of forest re-
serves"
The resolutions say that experience
has demonstrated the wisdom of the
policy of treating the lands of the ma
ton as public trust to be disposed
of in all cases and wherever possible
to actual settlers.
The people of the west are unal-
terably opposed to any change in this
wholesome and beneficial policy
Forest reserves should only be Gre
ated where they don't infringe this
policy.
In all cases the right of the states
and the people of the states to the
free and unhampered use of all wat
erS within forest reservations should
be not only permitted but encourag-
ed, and no charge should be imposed
thereon.
The necessity of forest reservations
are recognized and reasonable regu-
lations by the government commend
ed.
Other Provisions.
The resolutions, however, favor
the prompt elimination from forest
reservations of all lands not timbered
or suitable for re-forestation or rea-
Sonably necessary to conserve the
flow of streams used for irrigation.
1t is especially urged that the re-
ports of special and secret service
agents of the land department and
of the department of agriculture shall
be made under oath. A modification
of any existing orders which prevent
bona fide filings on any of the pub.
lie coal lands is demanded. The ma
tional irrigation law is heartily en-
dorsed.
1t is asked that congress legislate
appropriately with respect to schoo
lands in reservations so that each
state deprived of these lands may re-
ceive its full quota of lands or it:
equivalent, for the purpose of which
they were originally intended.
1t Is finally demanded that in state!
wherein forest reserves are situated
and not desired and are excessive, the
reservation should be reduced to rea-
sOnable limits whether the land en-.
tered contains timber or not.