The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1909-01-26
LIVE STOCK MEN OF THE
WEST IN CONVENTION

a large number of of representative
stockmen of practically all states of
the West present, the 18th annual
convention of the American National
Live Stock Association opened
three days session here this morn
ing. the tariff, grazing lands, forest
reserves and railroads are among the
important questions to be discussed.
Jastro praised the forest reserve
policy of the government and its aid
in recent years. He stated that there
was a steadily growing belief among
members of the organization that the
government should control the range
by lease or otherwise and refuted the
claims of some that meat is scarce
and selling at high prices in this
country. The trouble is Americans
wanted only the choice cuts of beef.
The work of the agricultural depart
ment in stamping out disease among
livestock was commenced. A synopsis
of Jastro's address follows:
Abstract of the address of H. A.
Jastro, president of the American Ma
tional Livestock Growers Associa-
ton, to be delivered at the opening
of the convention of the association
at Los Angeles on Tuesday, January
&c.
After greeting the delegates and
referring to the evolution OF Califor-
mia from grazing country to State
of diversified industries, Mr.. JastIo
said in part:
Years of experience, much Of it
full of misfortune, have impressed up
on stockmen the growing evils of I'M
controlled and overstocked ranges.
When the question of Federal control
of the open range was first considered
by this association eight or ten years
ago, there was a marked difference of
opinion among the users of the range,
but in the past few years there ap-
pears to be steadily increasing ina
jority who favor government control
by a lease or otherwise. At our last
annual meeting, the almost unanls
nous sentiment of our members was
cryStalized in a proposed bill which
we desired passed by Congress. By
the provision of that bill the Federal
Government is authorized to establish
grazing districts in the Semi-arid sec
tion and protection of such grazing
districts; to issue permits to graze
live stock thereon for periods of not
more than ten years, with he right
to fence, giving preference to home
steaders and to present occupants of
the range. Under this bill the Govern
ment of the United States exercises
the least possible control com nensu-
rate with the ownership of the land;
in fact, it is distinctly home rule
measure"
A committee was sent to Washing
ton to work in the interest of tlis
measure, but as it was seen that no
thing could be done at the last ses-
sion, action was deferred.
Mr.. Jastro praised the forest re-
serve policy of the Government, and
said the recent meeting at Washing
ton which discussed the conservation
of natural reserves was highly I'M
portant.
The failure of Congress to act on
the Culberson- Smith car and trarspor-
tation bill designed to prevent unrea-
sonable delays in furnishing C ,rs for
live stock and other perishabIe stock
and to compel reasonable and aGe-
quate service is deplored.
when this association secured the
extension of the twenty-eigh1s hour
law to thirty-six hours" said Mr.. Jas
tro, sit was confidently expected that
the extra time would prevent many
unnecessary unloadings, and enanle
us to get our live stock to deStina-
| ton in much better condition and
with much less hardship and suffering
| to the stock. Contrary to thei- prom
| ises, the railroads have simply con-
sumed the additional time between
their usual stopping places by hand
| ling the stock at a lesser rate of speed
so that almost as many unloafings are
necessary today as under the old law.
"The railroads are now contest;ng
i in the courts the Nebraska speed min
| imum law, and upon the request of the
Nebraska Stock Growers Association
i this association is assisting IN a de-
fense of that law. Unquestionably it
lies within the power of the States to
prescribe speed minimum, rs well
as to fix the rates. We pay the rail-