The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-23


y a discussion of the Burkett bill for =
= the leasing of public lands, and it 3
was approved by an overwhelming
= vote.
Denver, Colo, Jan. 22.-Resolutions
favoring government control and leas-
ing of public grazing lands submitted
by the executive committee of the Ma
tionai Livestock association to the COM
mittee on resolutions appointed at the
national convention of the organization
yesterday were adopted by that COM
mittee today and reported to the con-
vention. These resolutions, which ad-
voeate the passage by congress of the
Burkett bill with some amendments,
were StOutly contested by delegates rep
resenting the Colorado Horse and Cat
tie Growers association, which is OPP
posed to the leasing system proposed
by the federal administration.
Reciprocal Tariff"
The convention opened with an ad-
dress by Alvin Saunders, managing ed
itOr of the Chicago Breeders Gazette,
who spoke on Reciprocal Tariff" He
stated that there was a great market
for live stock and live stock products
in Europe. but that owing to prohibit
tive tariffs in the nations of that con-
tinent, live stock products were prac-
locally barred out. 1t is only by means
of reciprocal tariff. he said, that these
markets may be opened. He introduced
resolution, which was adopted, ap-
pealing to the ways and~means commit
tee of the house and the financial COM
mittee of the senate to take up the mat
ter and favoring the appointment of
a non-partisan tariff commission, as
provided in bill introduced by Senator
Beverage. to investigate conditions A
partial report of the resolutions COM
mittee was then made.
Six resolutions were read and adopt
ed. Among them was one endorsing the
bill introduced by Senator Culbertson
of Texas, and now pending in the
United States senate, for the relief of
shippers from the poor service of rail-
roads. Another resolution asks that
congress prohibit the railroads from adj
Vancing rates except with the consent
of the interstate commerce commission.
DIR. A. d. Melvin, chief of the bureau
of animal industry, of Washington, D.
c., brought greeting from Secretary
of Agriculture Wilson. He told what
the department was doing for the live
stock industry.
g. The first business of the afternoon
session was the report of the commit
tee on credentials. 1t showed that thir-
ty-three associations were represented
by $50 votes. The report was approved
without discussion.
Report on Burkett Bill.
The question of leasing public lands
for grazing then came up i'm the report
of the committee on resolutions on the
subject. The majority report favored
the passage of Senator Burkett's bill,
4,
committee.
A minority report was made by Isaac
Baer of Meeker, Colo, who offered a
substitute opposed to every form of
leasing Of public lands and endorsing
the stand taken by the convention of
the Colorado Cattle & Horse Breeders
association.
The most important amendments to
the Burkett bill by the committee pro-
vide maximum grazing fee of four
cents per acre and minimum of one
half cent per acre. Oother amendments
to the bill provide for the movement
OF live stock across the public lands and
for fencing rights.
Elias NJ. AunnOus of Colorado led in
the attack on the majority bill. He
claimed that if the bill became law il
would prevent settlers from taking up
hOmesteads. This position was taken
by all those who spoke in favor of the
minority report, while those who spoke
in favor of the majority contended that
the Burkett bill provided an easy man
neT by which homesteaders could as
readily take up public lands as they can
under the present laws.
The debate was continued for two
hours and was closed by B. F. Mont
gomery, of Colorado, against the Ieas-
ing system and by s. H Cowan of Tex-
as, in favor of the system. Mr. Mont
gomery claimed that there was a "1ok-
err" which to all intents and purposes
will prevent homesteaders from ever
securing homes on the public lands.
Mr.. Cowan denied the existence of a
Joker. He explained the bill fully,
and had the conveneonswith him.
The vote on the substitute which was
against the report of the majority of
the committee vas S21s for and $751;
against The report of the committee
was adopted by viva voce vote and
the convention adjourned until tomor-
row.