Arizona republican., 1908-01-28

that natural resources and water sup ply might be better conserved. MT. Heard, who introduced the subject in his first address, told why the Arizona cattIemen favored the leasing of the grazing lands, insisting that the Ari- 1 zonians are a strenuous people and have just as decided views on that. as on the statehood question He said the Burkett bill. which was designed to meet that question, and sections of which were published in a local paper yesterday, was drawn by men familiar with the range conditions and in the main was satisfactory. but the ArizO- nians thought it might be greatly inn ploved and after full discussion a great many amendments were made to it which were endorsed in the resolu- tions of the convention. Some of them he referred to. though the amended bill is not available for publication at this timo.
 The arguments of the AriZonians for the leasing idea were many but chief among them that it it will create more { homes on the ranges. that it will per init fencing the ranges and will there fore encourage Stockmen to breed up i their herds; that it will also encour- age them to develop water where none , is now to be had; that the grass and forage will in the same way be pre- served instead of tramped out by wan dering herds; that this will help regu- late and conserve the water supply both for the stockn'en and those in the irrigated sections below; and that it will definitely, adjust range rights and stop much of the controversy be- tween cattle growers and sheep grow CTS. The Burkett bill was drawn in the main by Senator Burkett of Ne braska, Secretary Garfield. Clifford Pinchot A. E. Potter, Tom Cowan and Senator Warren. all familiar with the subject. One feature of the Burkett Dill that was changed mad that 1t is believed very materially improves il. is that providing for the government of the grazing districts to be organ ized under il. The original bill provid- ed that the various intersts. cattle horses. sheep. goats. etc, should be represented on the local governing board in each district by appointees
 
 that the board members are to be se- ected by the stoekgrowers who are in terested in the district and should they fail to organize and do so the secre- tary of agriculture may appoint. This gives the local c9Htrol so much desired and places it in the hands of those concerned and familiar with condi- tions. Another change gives the stock grazer a right to fence his range which the original bill did not. The original bill did not restrict the boundaries of any district to state lines and Nan amendment accepted does so restrict a district where it is shown that that is feasible. The desirabilfty of this is obvious without discussion.
 Another change made in the bill was a very important one to the grazing sections. The original bill provided that 10 per cent of the revenues of the leased ranges should go to the school funds of the state of territory. The amendment provides that all proceeds shall go to the school funds. after the expense of administration has been paid. Another important change in wolves district boundaries in this Way Originally it was provided that the president might change the boundaries of any district at will. The amend ment provides that changes shall not be made more frequent than once in five years and then only after years notice has been given.
 Another thing MT Heard desired em- phasiZed is that there is no warfare between the cattle and sheep men as in Corner years but that there has been some conflict of interest It has been the purpose of both to eliminate these issues and both in conference with the administration have sought to secure regulations that would be fair to all concerned. So much has been accomplished that many of the sheep men, who were also in the convention gave the amended bill their support and Senator Carey, author of the Carey bill said that as amended he could now consistently support the Burkett bill. In the, final vote on the resolu- tions the result was 3S6 to g. showing a practically harmonious sentiment. Many members of the national wool growers association had opposed the Burkett bill but announced their pres ent agreement with the measure as amended. There was a good represen-