Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-12
CONTROL OF GRAZING LAND
Public Hearing on Burkett Amendment fOi
Leasing Public Ranges.
SHEEP MEN AGAINST THE PROPOSITION
President Roosevelt writes Letter
ArraiEninE Large F1ockmssters--
, CRttlemen Tell of violating
Anti-Fencing Law.

pOl1cy IN regard TO the control OF grains
land in the public domain, the interests
Of large and small cattle men, the sheep
men and the relations OF stock men and
homesteaders were considered today at a
public hearing before the senate commit
tee on agriculture.
The hearing was had on an amendment
by Senator Burkett of Nebraska to the
agricultural appropriation bill authpriz-
ing the secretary OF agriculture to dis
trict the unreserved lands and charge and
collect reasonable fees for grazing. The
cattlemen were represented by members
of the American National Live Stock as
ISOLATION, who favored the measure, while
the sheep men, represented by members
of the National Wool Growers assocla-
ton, opposed It. During the proceedings
a letter from President Roosevelt adj
dressed to Senator Warren was read It
endorsed general control by the govern
ment of grazing lands, but insisted upon
the protection of the homesteader and ar
raigned the sheep men severely.
Rivals Attack Each other.
The cattle men and sheep men criti-
cized each other and defended their own
motives. The cattle men made no defense
of the charges that they had been vio-
lators of the law and the sheep men as
serted that it was necessary for fencers
of public lands to make their peace with
the government, for they would be con-
victed if ever brought to trial"
A.rE. Rerisqules of the American Ma
'tional Live Stock association outlined the
| position of the cattle men in favor of
government control, and then called upon
individual cattle men for statements. ].
nj. Boardman of Helena, Mont, asserted
that every cattle man had violated laws
in regard to fencing. "Why, If you want
to get the list of violators just take the
membership of the cattle mems associa-
tion," he said,
Including yourself?" asked Chairmno
Proctor.
Eyes, sir, but have taken my fences
down." replied Mr.. Boardman He added
that he had fallen into political disfavor
and could no. longer get favors.
Small CattIemen Need Protection.
T. w Gray of Gunnisoh, Colo spoke
on the leasing system in order to pro.
tect small raisers Of cattle in Colorado
against Utah sheep raisers bringing in
| large hocks that quickly reduce ranges
to condition where cattle starve. 1--WE
have to fight these sheep men or get
nothing" he said. (which do you dor
!
TASK the criminal courts Of Colorado, "
replied Mr.. Gray.
| He described the high ranges in Colorado
as ideal for the small cattle men. with
the sheep man barred?" suggested Senator
Dolliver.
g.. The witness replied smilingly that "tht
altitude is too high for sheep" He was
asked about the "unwritten law" govern
| Ing the amount of range land bona 1ds
/ settler might use. He said the only un.
written law in his section concerned the
number OF sheep that might be brought In
from other SECTIONS.
what is the iimit?'' asked Senator
Doiliver. - 81 ~
Well" he replied, 10000 head dropped in
once But the sheep men did not take
that many away
Colonel Lockhart of Colorado Springs
Colo. and C. E. Aver of Baggs, Wyo., spoke
briefly in favor of the amendment.
I want to plead guilty for myself and
my neighbors," said C. w. Merchant OF
Carlsbad, N. NJ, who then admitted thai
cattle men in his section had fenced tracts
100 miles wide east and west and 800 miles
north and south and that the fences had
been up twenty-five years He told of q
visit few years ago from a special agent
their fences. He said that the cattle mer
lost 40 per cent of their stock and sold
the balance at reduced rates. The cattle
men, he said then went to Santa Fe and
had bill passed. permitting the fencing
of public roads. las we could locate 9
public road almost where we pleased, it was
| not long before we had the. fences back,
he said.
He favored government leasing of the
lands In order to -legallze the. fencing and
| he declared that the cattle men would not
object to homestead settlements within thu
leased tracts.
Dr. j. M. Wilson of Douglas, Wyo,, vic'
president of the National Wool Growers
association, suggested that after the de
Tense of homesteaders by the cattle men
st might be well to look for wings OF
these men"
"A trail OF blood, of assassinations, o.
stock MANNED and destroyed, has been lef
across the country from California to Ne
braska as the result of differences anC
difficulties of cattle men," said Rober
Taylor of Abbott, Neb in pleading for thu
Burkett amendment.
Wants states to Control.
e. ]. Bell of Albany county, Wyoming
a cattle man. sheep man and farmer, sai'
he was Wiling 10 nave government CollIO
il Wyoming men were permitted to sa!
what the grazing fees should be in tina
state.
Although Secretary of Agriculture VII
son and Chief Forester Pinchot were pres
emit, Mr.. Bell pointed out that it was
mistake to put 100000 acres in the hand
of one man to fix the price to be paid 70
grazing. 1T is too great a test of ont
mans honesty" he said.
After a number of other cattle men wer,
heard DIR. ]. M. Wilson Of Douglas, as tn
spokesman for the National Wool Growers
association, Of which Senator Warren 4
president opposed the amendment. Mr.
Wilson said that to turn loose an army o
special agents TO enforce the proposed Law
would be to invite corruption.
Letter from President.
The presidents letter to Senator Warner
follows:
THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON
| ! ID. c., Feb. IL, 1907.-My Dear Senator War
rem: In accordance with our recent con
versation am very glad to send you thi
statement of my position regarding govern
| ment control of the range. l am fully II
accord with. your view that the local con
troll of the range should be in the hands o
western men familiar with stock RAISING
and / believe I'm full local participation
in the management of the range. o
course, you must not divide the RESPONSE
/ bility to a point where YOU can hold nj