Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-28

Iuo HeTVlce mas enucdNOTSu 10 TSCIlIy
this by establishing holding grounds.
F'airer dealing with the service and also
with our neaghbors is requested. Some
outfits have received a very bad repu-
tation for such trespass. When their |
record is examined we find that on and I
off the forest, their reputation for fair
dealing Is much the same. Such men
think they have acted cleverly when
they have pastured off state or private
lands paid for by some other operator,
and this does not apply to sheepmen
alone. A much more drastic policy in
dealing with such individuals is nee
essary. A mistake by herder can be
condoned, but when such mistakes be-
come common, there is something
wrong with either the management or
it's owner. II is such men who are
bringing discredit to the industry, set
ting public opinion against it. and max
ing it hard for all concerned.
BOUNTY SYSTEM FAILURE.
1.-The predatory animal situation is
most unsatisfactory. The bounty sys-
tenn is an absolute failure. The assist
ance we are receiving from the federal
government is so slight, that only in
certain small localities are it's good ef-
fects visible. A report will be presented
by the state veterinarian. showing the
number OF pre- 1atory animals killed. AS
the woojgrowins industry pays the
largest share OF the predatory animal
fund, an investigation should be made
to show whether we are getting value
received for our outlay. thorough
accounting of the books should be
made to ascertain where the bounty
is going; who the defooters are;
and the trappers turning in the most
scalps. Your president can not but
| question the origin Of some Of the
! animals on which bounty is paid and
while not blaming any official. be-
lieves such investigation is justified.
FARMS BEING ABANDONED.
Every homestead law enacted with
in the past 10 years by our national
| government has been detrimental to
this state, with the single exception Of
the three year homestead where 1t
applied to lands under irrigation. In
| this instance, the law was of great
benefit as ii enabled bona fide per-
manent residents to obtain title, there
by enabling them to use their land as
collateral for loans whereby their
farms could be improved. Its applica-
tion to dry land farms has resulted in
the breaking up, thereby destroying
native grass, and final abandonment of
| thousands of farms. Had the five-year
residence requirements been retained
! and rigidly enforced, many a family
! would have been spared untold hard =
ships. Many a hard working man
i would have nest egg to meet the high
cost of living, instead of holding a
piece of land valuable only, or perhaps
valueless, for grazing, but which has
: cost him so much in labor and inn
provements that he cannot afford t.
sell it for the price the grazer can at
{ ford to pay. When one sees the aban-
doned fields, the dilapidated houses
: and even the abandoned school houses
he cannot but regret the misappliet
| effort and expense.
r HITS NON-PARTlSAN LEAGUE.
, Your president took the positio,
E last year that the wool growers SHOULD
( become non partisan in politics. Tha
was before the Nom Partisan leagu,
! had become the factor it now is in tn,
. state. AS an association we Shout,
Y keep out of entangling alliances an,
0 throw our whole strength to the MAJ
Il WIZ putS Idif iollSlfl ABOVE polll1CS. w
do not believe that men representa-,
any one industry can run this grea
: commonwealth. A legislative and ex
:, ecutive council composed entirely o
e men from the farms would not meri
our confidence any more than a counc
q drawn entirely from the mines, iron
=, the railroads. from the banks or an
g other particular oAass of men, w
Q ought to use our influence and GU
O. votes in assisting good men from ever
. industry to positions. legislative an
4 ecutive council comprised entirely :
, ming on the Republican. Democratic, c
y Non partisan tickets.
y NEED THE RANGE.
1T would seem at this time whe
;r the need of livestock is so urgent, tha
! the federal government would Civ
$ some attention to the needs of tn
VI range industries. Radical or whs
,r would appear as radical action at 9th
j. Ell times than this, has been taken b
l. our government in practically ever
branch of industry engaged in tn
production of necessities. Why came
IS the government stabilize our indus
q tries by taking direct control of tn
3. unoccupied public domain? What
: left of it is of no value except Il
grazing and the experienced grazer
more likely to give greater grot
production than the beginner. ii
this war is settled, would it not be &C
visabie to extend protection to tn
present user of the range rather tina
harrass him with additional trouble
The continued decrease In the numb.
of sheep in this country can be blame
directly to the department of interio
Control of public domain should
placed in the department of agricu
ture. The interest Of the interior d,
partment is purely selfish. A demar
should be made for the transfer of Il
remaining public lands to the depar
ment of agriculture. Production Is Il
first consideration.
MlDDlEMEN GET PROFITS.
AN extremely unfortunate cond
ic Anu t,, IL,