The Ordway new era., 1907-02-22
leAs.Mo rnr pvsLlc LANDS.
A otrens Argument Against President
Reossvelt's Policy.
BY Senator +. NJ. Ammons.

tnat the dutntnlbtrhtiou 10 ''he
force government control OF the pubic
ranges by adding the provisions OF the
Burkett measure TO the agricuiturn
appropriation bill. The Burkeu pili
was introduced as an administration
measure nearly year ago. IL pro
yides for the establishment OF grazing
districts by proclamation OF the Presi'
dent, and their control by the secre-
tary OF agriculture, whose duty IL is
to classify such lands rs agricultural
or grazing. appraise the grazing 'hIue
OF the land In each locality and charge
and collect fees for grazing permits.
prescribe regulations for the control
OF these districts, and appoint all nee
essary officers. Lands classified as
agricultural are to be let out on season
or annual permits. Lands classified
as grazing shall be occupied under per
mits for periods OF not more than ten
years, and upon application agricul'
tural settlement shall be allowed when
ever an inspection by the secretary OF
agriculture OF the lands applied Tor
shall show such land to be agricultural
in character. but no other settlement
or entry therein shall be allowed eN-
cept under the mining or townsitc
laws"
This is just what the big cattle com
panics want to have done. There are
no limitations that will hurt them.
There is little or no fear that these
lands will be classified as anything
grazing lands. and once classi'
fed as such how much chance
is there that with any rea-
sonable time they will be classified
as anything else? In the meantime
they will be occupied" by someone
under permit. II some homeseeker
comes along and can convince the gov
ernmeut official in charge that he
wants to 90 on these lands for some
proper purpose" he may lind quar-
ter section upon which he would like
to settle. II so, he must ask for re-
classification. II he Is fortunate
enough TO get his quarter section clas-
sifed as agricultural. he will be per
mittCd to enter Il. II he gets the land
the first thing he must do Is TO fence
Il TO keep out Uncle Sans leascrs
live stock. He cannot go into the cat
tie business. for the country around
him is already occupied by some leascr
or "permittee" during the balance Of
the ten years period. and he has no
assurance OF getting a Reconsideration
at the end OF that period. After he
fences of his farming ground. what is
left OF his 100 acres could not possibly
take care OF his ordinary farm animals,
Looking over the experience OF the
past. how many homeseekers do you
imagine would undertake such i prop
osition as this, and how many would
succeed II they did undertake It?
Up 10 the present time, except as to
national parks and forest reserves. the
government has not been In the land
business. 1t has merely occupied the
position as trustee for the public lands
until they should be settled up by citi-
zens II the country. BY the homeTtead
act and other laws these lands have
been apportioned out among the peo-
pie, who have made homes, built
towns, made roads, erected school.
houses. churches and colleges. con.
structed bitches and reservoirs, con.
tributed their share to the support OF
our state and local institutions and
government, built up prosperous com
munlties. and added to the wealth. the
strength ana the prosperity of the
country.
II is now proposed. presumably on
the ground that we have reached the
limit OF our development, to entirely
change our policy and have the gov.
ernment go into the permanent land
business and make of Uncle Sam a
favored landlord. We have had az
mixing OF what this means in the ad.
ministration OF the forest reserves. In
these the government put in a permit
system and a grazing tax II has not
fenced these lands and claims i'm
munity from our state laws. ANY citi.
zen land owner in Colorado in orde.
TO protect his land from trespassfn.
I'VE stock must put lawful fence
around II. II it is line" fence be-
tween his property and his neighbor's
each shall build half. The government
claims 1t is not bound by these state
laws, Its rules require that citizens
OF this state must keep their livestock
on these reserves and the bureau of
forestry. under the agricultural depart.
ihent mas gone so far as to attempt TO
make 1t criminal offense for owners
OF livestock 10 permit their cattle or
horses to drift on these unfenced
lands. Arrests have been made under
thls ruling and ! am told fines have
actually been imposed. Now that the
right to do this has been questioned.
the Burkett bill proposes to enforce
the principle by fixing a penalty of not
to exceed $1,000 fine on the open lands
OF the grazing districts. If ANNOYANCE
expense, and conflict occur under the
somewhat doubtful rules of the fores.
try bureau, what may be expected
from the same people when backed uD
by unquestioned law of congress-
which we have no power to amend or
repeal?
Our semi-foreign landlord, Uncle
sam, does not propose to pay any taxes
on his land under this new system. He
does propose to collect rents, however
This will put his untaxed land in com.
petition with yours and mine. Do Won
think this is fair? Our land has cost
US something. The improvements have