, 1908-01-07
MONDELL ON THE BURKETT
BILL.

MONDELL ON THE BURKETT
BILL.
Some days ago The Republican took
occasion to point out several objec
tionable features of the Burkett
range control" bill now before o
gress. These objections are believed
to be of such n fundamental nature
that there is no probability that the
bill will pass, as no western member
mailing from grazing states could pos
sibly support It in its present form.
We are now in receipt OF n letter from
Secretary George S. Walker of the
Wyoming W~oolgrowers' association
transmitting n copy of a letter from
Congressman Frank w. Mondell, with
the request that the same be publish
ed. Although The Republican has not
been in entire accord with Mr.. Mon
dell on matters pertaining to the con
troll Of the public domain, yet it n no
hesitancy in saying that his objec.
lions to the Burkett bill are in the
main sound. The correspondence is
given herewith:
Cheyenne, Wyoming, January 5th,
1908. Hon. w. e. Chaplin, Laramie,
Wyoming. Dear Mr.. Chaplin:-I re.
spectfully submit herewith copy of let,
ter received today from Hon. Frank
w. Mondell, Wyoming's beloved IN
gresham, containing a very frank, in
telligent and interesting criticism Of
the so-called Burkett bill. | commend
this letter to your most careful con
sideration, and suggest that same be
published. With kind personal re-
CARDS. Yours truly,
GEORGE S. WALKER,
Secretary.
Washington, ID. c., January 2, 1908.
Mr.. George S. Walker, Cheyenne, Wy
oming. My Dear Mr.. Walker:| have
yours with request for an expression
of views on the Burkett range con
troll bill. / notice the bill Is being gen
orally condemned by those who have
heretofore opposed such legislation,
and also that even those who have
heretofore been inclined TO a favorable
leaning towards the idea OF federal
range control-largely in my opinion
because the administration is suppos-
ed to favor it-ind much to criticise
at this development OF the situation
for the proposed legislation is so fun.
damentally wrong in its purposes that
it is not possible that the details of
the same can be satisfactory to any
one actuated with an honest desire for
the healthy, unimpaired development
of the west and alive to the impor-
lance of maintaining that local con,
troll over local affairs which is the
cornerstone of our institutions.
1t should be remembered that the
idea OF federal range control is not the
natural growth or development of our
land system or of the needs and de
mands of western people, but that it
is purely an exotic sprouted and incu.
bated in the bureaucratic not houses
of the forest service, sedulously cult
waited by the officials of various gov
eminent bureaus through the lavish
nga pf tho farti1f,fng Ia H,,np,n- 90 ,..,t
patronage n ~transplanted into the
field OF legislative experiment by a
gentleman who is conscious of the
fact that it cannot be reared in his
own particular political vineyard, and
who has therefore probably taken lit
lie pains to learn of its character.
The federal range control idea is
founded on the theory that there are
vast unbroken stretches of land in the
west wholly unfit for any other pur,
pose than that Of grazing the natural
grasses which grow thereon; that over
extensive areas We have practically
reached the limit of development, and
that these lands should be perma-
nently retained in the hands of the
national government, their use admin
istered by its officials and the returns
therefrom passed into the national
treasury. The policy would overturn
the theory Of public lands heretofore
held by u people and recognized by
the highest courts, to-wit, that the
public lands are held as a trust by the
government for the people, to be grad
TALLY passed into private ownership
and control in such manner and in
such areas as shall guarantee their
highest and best use and establish a
home owning, land owning citizenship.
Until our people shall have definite,
ly determined that We shall depart
from the system of private ownership
of lands and local control of local af-
fairs, it is impossible that any feder.
al range control system can be sat
isfactory in its details, to any one ex.
cent Dowerful individuals and norDor.