Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-13
sURKETT AMENDMENT STANDS
without CompletinE Hearing. sug-
EesfiOn of Nebraska senator is
Adopted ny Committee.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12-without contin-
uing its hearing on the Burkett amend
ment to the agricultural appropriation bill
providing for the leasing of public lands
for grazing the senate committee today
agreed to adopt the amendment. Several
amendments to the BurkeJt proposition
were adopted. however. designed to pro-
tect the interests of the homesJeaders. The
policy outlined, which is favored by the
president, was agreed upon by a bare
majority of the committee. 1t is not un-
likely that a point OF order may be made
against it in the senate and it Is conceded
to be general legislation.
The amendment provides that the score
tary of agriculture. who is TO have control
of and manage lands, shall organize grazing
districts. The Department or Agriculture is
to organize control of and fix the fees to
be charged for grazing
Following is the text Of the grazing
amendment agreed upon by the committee:
Hereafter, for the purpose Of restoring,
protecting and increasing the grazing value
OF the public domain and promoting ths
agricultural use thereof the secretary OF
agriculture may organize grazing districts
ana regulate and control grazing upon the
nInappropriated. unreseryed ianos on ,,s sne
lations as he may prescribe, and charge
and collect reasonable fees for grazing
treasury of the United States To the credit
of the special fund obtained from charges
for timber, grazing and other resources OF
seet6n e Ss of the act @ Of ReSrTSy T. 1s
which Is hereby appropriated and made
available in addition to It's present uses and
under the Restrictions provided by law for
the regulation, restoration, protection and
increase of grazing upon the public lands
and for the employment Of necessary as
sistants for such purposes in the city of
Washington and elsewhere, and II shall be
unlawful after January J. 1905, to Craze any
! trict otherwise than as the said rules and
regulations shall prescribe.
Provided, That all leases or permits to
Craze issued under this provision shall be
| subject to the right of homestead or other
settlement. location, entry. patent, or any
other disposal of public lands, under the
public land law and any appropriation so
made shall operate as a cancellation OF
| said lease or permit as to the land 20 ap-
propriated; provided further. that bona fide
| homestead settlers or residents shall be
perrsitted to Craze free of charge their
stock used for necessary domestic ppr-
| Provided, That preference shall be given
to bona hde homesteaders- and settlers in
| Of ranges adjacent to their homes not
| later than the beginning OF the newt annual
| grazing period, and provided further, that
] all OF the receipts from the grazing fees
/ herein authorized in excess of the cost of
| administration, protection and improvement
Of the public range, and necessary working
| capital for the ensuing fiscal year shall
be paid to the states and territories IN
| which said fees originate at the close of
each fiscal year. to be used for schools,
roads. irrigation or other public purposes
| as the respective legislatures may pre-
| scribe, the distribution of such residue to
| be proportional TO such receipts from graz
/ ing fees from the respective states and
! territories during the preceding fiscal year.
but nothing herein shall be construed 20
prevent the payment of 10 per cent Of re-
| ceipts from national forests to the states
and territories as now provided By law.