, 1907-03-02
WYOMING SENATOR ADDRESSES
COLLEAGUES ON MATTER PER-
TANNING TO QUESTION
OF LEASING.
Admitted That There Will Be no Legls.
Iation at This Session of Congress
for the Control BY the Govern.
ment Of the Public Grazing Lands
Of West, But Subject Needed
E~lucidation at Hands of Senator.

Special to The Republican.
Washington, d. c., March at is
generally believed and conceded that
there will be no legislation at this
session Of congress providing for the
control, by the government, of the pub.
lie grazing lands of the west. When
this legislation was proposed, in the
form of an amendment to the agricul.
tural appropriation bill, it was not ex
pected by the members Of the COM
m1ttee on agriculture that it would be
permitted to remain in the bill, as
under the rules of the senate it is sub
ject to go out on a point of order
raised by any one member of the sen.
ate. That this point of order would
be raised was certain, for a number of
senators were known to be opposed
to the leasing proposition.
Presented in Concrete Form.
1t was considered desirable, howev-
er, to have the matter presented in
concrete form to the senate, not only
for discussion in that body, but also
for examination and discussion by the
stockmen of the west directly inter
ested in the question and by the peo-
pie Of the country generally whose in.
~terests might be directly or indirectly
affected.
President Writes to Warren.
Senator Warren, who Is a member
Of the senate committee on agriculture.
was in receipt of a letter from the pres
ident in which the earnest wish was
F! expressed that a settlement Of this
vexed question might be reached, par.
%ticularly at this time, when such a
settlement would relieve a large mum.
Der of small western ranchmen from
the hardships which must be entailed
upon them by the enforcement Of the
law against fencing the public lands.
Small Areas Under Fence.
AS is well known, a great many
stockmen and ranchmen Of the west
have small of government lands
enclosed to which they have no claim
or title, and in behalf Of these stock
men, as well as to bring the whole
question up for discussion, Senator
Warren, with other members of the
agricultural committee, favored the in
prryNraffNv in tho oortN111fItrol hill nf
the leasing amendment.
Will Assume Control.
1t is believed by Senator Warren
that ultimately the general government
will assumt some control of the re-
naming vacant public lands, and it is
his intention, should such control be
assumed, to secure such regulations
as would impose the minimum of hard.
ship with the maximum of benefit to
western interests.
Some of His Desires.
1t is his desire, should range con
troll come:
First, that the administration Of the
lands shall be placed in the hands OF
local men familiar with the conditions
surrounding them.
Second, that the fees imposed shall
be nominal and the receipts from graz.
ing and leasing shall be returned to the
states in which they may be collected.
Third, that preference shall be given
to the small stockman and farmer to
lease grazing lands adjoining their
home ownings.
Fourth, that the leased lands shall
always be open to homestead entry,
and settlers shall not be restricted from
filing upon them.
In calling the attention Of the senate
to his views upon this subject, Senator
Warren said, in part:
Senator Warren's Address.
Regarding the grazing-contral pro
position 1 have been informed there
will be a point OF order made agains,
that amendment. In fact, I have beer
quite numerously advised OF 1t ane
hat several senator's will make the
suggestion. I had therefore made W
my mind to say nothing about the mat
ter, hoping that thereby We might II
the last hours of the session pass from
the consideration of this bill to othel
pressing business.
Some Things Well Known.
II merely wish to say a few word
now to cover some or the mlstaKei