The state herald., 1908-01-31
LEASING PLAN
IS |ND0RSED
LIVE STOCK CONVENTION FAvoRs
FEDERAL CONTROL OF THE
RANGE.
VERY LARGE MAJORITY
COMMITTEE FAVORS BuRkETT
BILL WHICH PROVIDES MUCH
LOCAL CONTROL.

Denyer.-By a majority that was q
surprise to every officer and delegate
present, the American National Live
Stock Association Wednesday went on
record in favor of government control
and regulation Of the public range.
land leasing, etc. The vote on the ma
jority resolution offered by the com
mittee on resolutions, stood 3S6h for
and only 321A against. The most earn
est advocates of the policies of Presi-
dent Roosevelt with reference to range
control were surprised at the extent or
the endorsement
Following is in part the report Of the
committee on resolutions, as adopted:
'Your committee begs to call attten-
ton of the members of this associa-
ton to the objects of this (the Burketp
bill, and while doing so, your commit
tee desires to say that it is not welded
to specific language, but reports the
bill in the language in which 1t is
printed with the amendments we have
suggested as embodying the principles
that we believe in and giving to them
correct expression. The objects Of the
bill comprehensively stated are:
"First-To place the public lands OF
the United States suitable for grazing
under the control OF the secretary OF
agriculture for the purpose OF protect
ing. maintaining and perpetuating such
grazing lands to the end Of securing
the greatest beneficial use therefrom.
"Second-The law cannot possibly
be administered without investing the
secretary OF agriculture with reason
able discretion in matters Of details,
but this bill limits that discretion so
far as practicable and vests the large
portion OF the management in the peo-
pie actually using the lands.
"The maximum grazing fee is fixed
at four cents per acre, and the min
imum at one-half cent per acre: but
the fact that the maximum of four
cents is named should not be taken rs
any indication that four cents would
be charged. except In those few local.
tiles where that would be entirely
within the reasonable limit. This
maximum and minimum fee is inserted
as a limitation upon what may bo
charged. and yet II will be observed
that the bill provides that the fees for
grazing shall be based upon the value
OF the land In each locality.
"Third-The second section OF the
bill We consider TO be the. most i'm
portant because Il contains the funda-
mental idea of local control OF all those
matters wherein the people themselves
best know what should be done and
II is accordingly provided that users
OF the land may select n committee OF
four, who. with the officer appointed
by the Agricultural Department, con
stitute an executive board. which, as
you VIII observe. has charge OF prac.
tically all matters OF local concern or
that could bo appropriately referred
to II. II would scarcely be possible
TO give 10 n local board more power
that does this section.
Your committee believes that IL is
desirable TO secure the largest amount
OF local control, which can be Sc
cured without the destruction OF ulti.
mate responsibility OF the Agricultural
Department charged with administer
Ing the law. md therefore, II Is pro
vided In this section that II differ
enees shall exist between a majority
OF the board and the officer In charge.
tho same shall bo referred TO the sec
retnry OF agriculture. TO be adjusted by
MIN, and tho important provision is in.
serted that any interested party shall
have tho right TO appeal from decis.
ion OF the board.
we think. therefore. that the rights
OF every person arc MS fully protected
ms would bo possible under the system
which this bill proposes: and that with.
out fayorltlsm ms between the owners
OF different sorts OF livestock.
"Fourth-rhc bill is framed on tho
theory and expressly provides that II
snail In no wise Interfere with the ao-
quisltion Of the titio 10 tho publ,o
lands OF the United Staten under any
OF tho laws by which they may now
be acquired.
AN OF tho laws pertaining TO water
riEh,n nra by the cxprcha provisions
OF tho bill hhfeguarded. according to
thc various laws OF the states or ter.
| ritorica.
"rho executive committee proposes
TO amend the bill no that all net
moneys will bo paid 10 tho states for
inc counties for the bcnoiit OF public
schools and roads. which meets with
our hearty approval.
"Fifth-it will protect tho range
from oycrHioeking and tend 70 greater
harmony.
Above all. from tho ntnndpoin, OF
public rood. Il will encourage tho o..
,aplishinent OF homes upon tho public
IahuH pocnnho when tho land In fenced.
" INC blll provides, n permanent hab.
i,a'ion may be safely established with
.ne Insurance OF the party who ,nkcp
np homestead. that ho will get bono
] nNim unn Of n and .uut,ta,, ..af.s