, 1907-12-21
NEBRASKA SENATOR'S BILL FOR
CONTROL OF GRAZING LANDS
OF THE STATES AND
TERRITORIES.
Said to Have Met Approval Of Score
tary Of the Interior and Chief For.
sster-Psesident Shall Proclaim
Grazing Districts for Period Of Not
More Than Ten Years-Rentai to
Be Shared With the States.

Washington, D. c., Dec. Ex-senator
Burkett of Nebraska today introduced
in the senate a bill, which has the ap-
|proval Of the secretary of the interior
and Forester Pinchot, to provide fol-
government control Of vacant grazing
Hands remaining in states and terri
tories.
Some of the Provisions.
The principal provisions of the bill
are as fellows:
The president is authorized to estab-
tlish by proclamation grazing districts
to be placed under the charge of the
~secretary of agriculture, who shall pre-.
scribe rules and regulations for their
control and appoint officers necessary
flor their protection and administra'
ton.
Grazing Permits for Long Term.
The secretary shall issue permits to
Craze livestock in the districts for Pc
RODS of not more than ten years, CIV
ing preference to homesteaders and
present occupants and ranchmen who
lown improved ranches, or who have
provided water for livestock grazed on
public lands, and shall charge and col.
llect reasonable fees for such grazing
permits based upon the grazing value
of the land.
An Executive Board.
The bill provides that the governor
of a state or territory may appoint
la committee Of not more than four
members iron users of such a grazing
district, who with an officer appointed
by the secretary Of agriculture to take
charge of the district. shall constitute
an executive board, which shall deter,
mine whether permits shall be issued
upon an acreage, or per capita basis,
shall distribute the range by individual.
Tor community ,allotments, and also de-
ltermine the number OF animals to be
grazed in each district when placed up,
on a pei capita basis, and adopt special
rules to meet local conditions. The
secretary OF agriculture shall decide
lin case of a difference between a major
lily of the board and the officer In
charge.
Subject to Homestead Entry.
The bill provides that lands within
grazing districts shall be continually
subject TO homestead entry, but that
after the establishment of any district
no form of location, or entry thereon,
shall give right of grazing, except
when made under laws requiring cul-
tivation, or agricultural use of land,
and that permits shall not be affected
by subsequent appropriation of such
land until the end of the current a
nual grazing period; also that no per-
NIT shall be issued which will entitle
entrymen to the use of improved land
owned by a prior occupant until paid
for at q reasonable valuation.
Moving Live Stock.
Grazing lands shall continue subject
to mineral entry and persons shall
have the right to move live stock
across rented lands under restrictions
to protect lessees.
The secretary of agriculture may set
aside not more than 3 per cent of the
public lands in n district for the
use of schools, churches, state or coun-
ty buildings.
No Change in Water Laws.
Present water laws shall not be
changed. The bill also provides that
the secretary of agriculture shall fix a
date not less than one year from the
establishment of a grazing district, af-
ter which grazing Of live stock in such
district without permit shall be punish.
able by a fine or not less than $40 or
more than $1,000, or by Imprisonment
of not less than ten days or more than
one year, or by both fine and impris-
onment, at the discretion Of the court.
Ten Per Cent to state.
The bill provides $z6o.000 for the
payment of the expenses necessary to
put the act into effect. Ten per cent
of all money received from rentals
shall be paid to the state or territory
in which they are collected, to be ex-
pended as the state or territorial leg
islature may prescribe for the benefit
of county or counties in which the