The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-02-04
WENAHA SHEEPMEN WANT AID
Ask Senator Ankeny to Use His
Influence for Them.
INSPECTION LAWS ARE TOO STRICT
NATIONAL BUREAU OF ANIMAL
INDUSTRY MUST RECOGNIZE
STATE RIGHTS.



+ ture assures Senator Ankeny that +
+ the bureau of animal industry +
+ provides for inspection and is +
+ obliged to recognize states rights. +
+ However. Senator Ankeny is in +
4 consultation with Senator Warren +
+ of the National Wool Growers +
= association and will have a con- +
+ ference with the president, Febru- +
+ airy II. On the subject of the pro- +
+ lection of sheep utilizing forest +
+ serves for grazing purposes. +
+ +
++++ + + + + + + + + I. = + +
Sheepmen of southeastern Washing
| ton and particularly those ranging in
the Wenaha forest reserve are waging
war over the strict inspection laws
in Oregon, but more especially the bill
pending in the legislature of that state
providing for 80 days quarantine. The
Wenaha Woolgrowers' association has
| wired Senator Ankeny for assistance
in getting their sheep onto the range
in the reserve in Oregon.
| The secretary of agriculture has as
sured Senator Ankeny that the bureau
of animal industry provides for in
spection but that it is obliged to recog-
nize state rights. Senator Ankeny is in
consultation with Senator Warren.
president of the National WoolgrOwers'
| associa ton and has arranged for a
conference with tine president ,Febru-
airy II, on the subject of the protection
of sheep utilizing forest reserves for
grazing purposes.
1t has been commended by the sheep
men seeking to use the reserves in
Oregon that the land ENLARGED within
such reserves is government land and
under the control and supervision OF
federal officers appointed by the de-
partment of agriculture which has
been given the administration of re-
serve affairs. Therefore, when a
sheepman receives his permit from the
supervisor to range his stock in the
reserve and has his sheep Inspected
by a federal officer, it is argued that
the state authorities are imposing an
unnecessary and unjust burden to re-
quire a further inspection and a quar-
antine of ninety days before the sheep
men can cross the state line with his
sheep.
| Under Federal Authority.
| The lands, being owned by and
solely within the control and jurisdiC-
ton of the federal government, it is
contended that the state should not be
permitted to exercise jurisdiction to
| the extent of practically excluding the
sheepmen of Washington from enjoy
ing the benefits of the range for which
privilege they pay certain sum an
lnually to the federal government.
With the 80 days quarantine, which
is now proposed by the Oregon legls-
lature, in effect the Washington stock
men would be shut out of the reserve
in Oregon the greater part of the graz
| ing season. The present law in ore
gOn provides that before entering the
state the sheepmen shall have their
stock inspected by the Oregon in
spector and a penalty is provided Tor
the violation of this law which is being
enforced by the authorities OF the
lneighborhing state. This law also
works a great inconvenience to Wash
ingtOn men in most instances as II Is
not always possible to secure the SER
vices of the Oregon inspector and the
sheep must wait at the state line until
such a time as it may be convenient
for the inspector or his deputy to make
| the necessary examination.
| An effort is being made to have
universal inspection and quarantine
law to apply to the reserve SO thar
when a man has received his certin-
cate from the proper official he may
enjoy the benefits for which he is pay
ing the government. However, the
vexing question of states rights enters
into the solution of the problem ana
the federal authorities seem to be OF
the opinion that the various states can
enact their own inspection laws winch
they may enforce within their bound
aries.
| Sheepmen recognize the neCessity/oi
strict inspection and quarantine laws
but as the reserves extend into various
states, and as the range within these
reserves is controlled by the federal
govrnment which charges for the graz
ing of stocy thereon, it is contendeo
that inspection by the federal authorl-
ties should be sufficient, at least Win
respect to the sheep on the reserves.