Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1909-01-26
JASTRO BLAMES PUBLIC
FOR THE HIGH PRICE
OF MEAT
Says the American Demand
Choice Cuts and These Are
Necessarily Limited on
Each Animal.
LIVESTOCK MEN
IN SESSION TODAY
Annual Convention Begins Work
at Los Angeles With Big At
tendance of StoCkmen
From Over the
West.

Los Angeles, Jan. 26.-With a large
number of representative livestock
men of practically all the states of
the west present, the twelfth annual
convention of the American Livestock
association opened its three day ses-
sion heer this morning The tariff,
grazing lands, forest reserves and
railroads are among the important
things to be discussed. President
Jastro's annual address was the fca-
ture of today's session
After greeting the delegates and re-
f.rring to the evolution of California
from a grazing country to a state of
diversified Industries, Mr.. Jastro said
in part.
Years Of experience, much of 1t
full OF misfortune have impressed up
on stockmen the growing evils of un-
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 marked difference of
opinion among the users of the range.
but in the past few years there APP
pears to oe q steadily Increasing ma
jority who favor government control
by a lease or otherwise. At our last
annual meeting, the almost unani-
nous sentiment of our members was
cIystalized 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
tions of the west, and to appoint Of
hcers necessary for the administration
and protection Of such grazing dis
tricts to issue permits to Craze live
stock thereon for periods of not more
than ten years, with the right TO
fence, giving preference to home
steaders and to present occupants of
the range. Under this bill the gov
ernmrnt Of the United States exercises
the least possible control commensu-
rate with the ownership of the land;
in fact. it is a distinctly home rule
measure"
\ committee was sent to Washing
ton to work in the interest Of this
measure, but as it was seen that moth
ing could be done at the last session,
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 trans
portation bill designed to prevent un-
delays in furnishing cars
for livestock and other perishablc
stock and to compel reasonable and
adequate service is deplored
when this association secured the
extension of the twenty-eight hour
law to thirty-six hours" said Mr.. |
Jastro, "lt was confidently expected |
that the extra time would prevent /
many unnecessary unloadings and en- |
able us to get our livestock to desti- |
nation in much better condition and |
with much less hardship and suf- |
fering to the stock. Contrary to their |
promises, the railroads have simply !
consumed the additional time between |
their usual stopping places Oy hand
ing tle live stock at a lesser rate of
speed, so that almost as many unload
ngs are necessary today as under the
Did law.
The railroads are now contesting
n the courts the Nebraska speed min
mum law, and upon the request OF
he Nebraska stock Growers assOcia-
ion this association Is assisting in
lefense of that law. UnGuestionably
{ lies within the power of the states
20 prescribe a speed minimum, rs
veil as to fix rates We pay the rail-
oads for good service and they should
'c compelled TO furnish it.
"Our bill prohibiting advances in
ates except after approval Of the in
erstate commerce commission to in
uire into the reasonableness Of the
.dvances before they take effect, and
o suspend same if deemed unreason-
BILE.
"Our bill prohibiting advances in
reight rates except after approval Of
he interstate commerce commission, |
las, through our efforts, received the
Endorsement Of many organizations ,
throughout the country, and I believe
hat il has a fair chance for passage. ! I
his association should reaffirm its .
ormer action on this exceedingly inn I
,Ortant subject.
eve have favored such change in {
he tariff laws Of the United states as s
iill permit the president Of the Unit :
d states to make reciprocal trade I
greements with other nations so as {