The Glenwood post., 1907-02-16
WESTERN ST0CknEN
OPPOSE GOVERNMENT
Big Meeting at Rifle Adopts Resolutions OppoS-
ina Grazing Tax on Forest ReServeS---AIS0
Objects to Leasing of the Range
WILL REFUSE TO TAKE OUT GRAZING PERMITS

A big meeting of stockmen gath
cred at Rife last Monday to discuss
matters pertaining to the cattle bust
ness and especially the forest reserve
policy of the national government and
the proposed plan to place all govern
ment lands under the control of the
department of agriculture and subject
to grazing regulations similar to those
now in force in the forest reserves.
The meeting was called to order
by f. D. Squler, president of the
Grand River Stockgrowers' association
and the call was read by NJ. e. Nor
row, the secretary G. j. Shideler,
chairman of a committee on resolu-
tions which had been appointed be-
fore the calling of the meeting, then
read the following resolution:
Whereas. After years experience
with the permit system on the forest
reserves of the western slope of Colo
RADIO the cattle owners and farmers
who have been paying fees for grazing
their stock upon said reserves, have
been unable to find that they have
received any benefit in return for the
money they have paid the government,
Whereas, Said reserves are un-
fenced and cattle drift upon the re-
serves whether they have paid fees or
not, and
Whereas, The payment of fees foI
grazing upon the forest reserves is, in
| effect. an additional tax upon our in
dustry without any adequate returns
therefor, and we deny the right of the
government to exact fee under the
present law. Therefore, be it
Resolved By the Grand Ri yer
Stockgrowers association and dele
gates from the Roaring Fork and
Eagle River stockgrowers and other
stockmen and farmers in mass meet,
ing assembled that until the United
States Forest service shall fence the
reserves, or until the federal courts
shall render decis to the effect
that we have no recourse but to pay
said fees, we shall decline to take out
any permits or pay any fees for our
stock upon said reserves.
Resolved, That the Colorado Cattle
and Horsegrowers' association be asked
to at once take steps to have our
rights protected in regard to grazing
upon said reserves in the federal
conrts.
Fred z. Johnson, secretary of the
Colorado Cattle and Horsegrowers
association and editor of the Record
Stockman, was then called upon and
he stated that under the present un-
cisions it was very difficult for the
stockmen to tell "where they were
at and said the government officials
We're as uncertain as were the stock
men as to their rights and their
power to enforce the present regula
tions. He said from talk he recent
ly had with Mr.. Pinchot he believed
the department would welcome test
case. He told the stockmen that
there had recently been federal de
cision to the effect that the govern
ment could not maintain a criminal
action against one whose cattle were
turned on the public domain and
wandered on the forest reserve. If
the fellow drove the cattle on the for
est reserve the criminal action could
be maintained. otherwise it could not
He said there was an effort on foot to
force test case on the Pixies Peak
reserve by having some cattleman re-
fuse to pay his grazing fee He said
when his cattle were found on the
reserve the forestry officers would ar
rest the owner and the case he thought
could be submitted on an agreed
statement of facts. He said the Col
oradO Cattle and Horsegrowers' asso-
citation had agreed to take the matter
up and make a test case if this could
be arranged. Mr.. johnson did not
give his authority for the assumption
that the government would enter into
an arrangement of this kind.
FORESTRY OFFICIAL TALKS
Smith Riley was present and stated
that it was the policy Of the govern