Arizona republican., 1917-01-19

! lands would adjust itself as had the
| settlement under the other homestead
laws; that classification would be very
| expensive and delay the operation OF
the law for many years.
"AS o matter of fact it is very
| evident TO me. from careful study
made of the cost of the classification
| of the grazing lands within the ma
| tonal forests, that complete classified :
| ton of the public grazing lands could
| be made within two years, and at an
| expense of less than half-cent pei
| acre. The law would then have been
based on knowledge, not guessWork
| The poor man seeking to make a
| home on these western public lands
would have been protected from the
professional locator and speculator.
THE stock-raising homestead bill,
under consideration by the house, after
being pretty thoroughly threshed over
| in committee. was finally passed in
the last session of congress; and one
of the most startling actions of the
senate was the passing of the bill on
the last day of congress, practically
without discussion, and without the
opportunity of preliminary hearings by
the stockmen. Two bills conflicting
in character had thus been passed. one
by the senate and one by the house.
Since the opening of the present
session of congress, conferees were
appointed, composed of Senator Smith,
of Arizona; Thomas. of Colorado and
Smoot of Utah, on behalf of the SEN
ate; and Ferris, of oklahoma; Taylor,
of Colorado, and Lenroot, of Wiscon-
SIM on behalf of the house.
THE officers of this association felt
that every possible effort should be
made to induce the conferees, if pos
siblo TO include in a bill on which they
might agree the principle of classified
tion--a principle Endorsed by Secre-
tary Houston, Mr.. Potter chief of
grazing of the forestry service, and
other specialists who had given this
question their careful and unprej-
udiced attention. When Mr.. TOmlin-
son and | went to Washington last
| month, we found that the only posi-
bility, under the rules of congress as
to conference committees, was to
bring about an adjustment on those
points or which the two bills definite
ly disagreed, and that there was no
opportunity to insert in the new bill
the policy of classification.
There were also present in Wash
ingtOn some of the most representa-
tive members of the National Wool
Growers association. The stockmen
present endeavored to have a hearing
before the conference committee, but
found that such hearing was con-
trarY to precedent.
M. William Kent, Of California, a
member of this association. and one
of the men in congress best informed
on western range conditions, earnestly
protested against the passage of the
Stock-ralSing homestead bills in the
shape in which they reached the con-
ference committee, claiming that in
stead of proving to be real home max
ing measures. they offered an oppor-
tunity for stoclpigeon location, specu-
lation and Matchmaking in connection
with the handling of the public lands,
and vigorously called the attention
of the president and secretaries of
agriculture and the interior to the de-
fects in the pending measures: and
While t was not possible to perfect
these measures thoroughly, | feel that
the improvements which were made of
the bill in conference are largely due
to the courage, justice, and vigor Of
Mr.. kents active propaganda Tor "a
Just workable. and practical measure.
The pill as finally modified was
passed by congress on December %.
and signed by the president on De-
cemher 90
AS this bill will very naturally have
an important effect on the stock rails
ing industry in the west it should
be thoroughly understood by all stock
men using such areas. and we have
arranged for the distribution of copies
of the bill at the close of this SEES
sion.
Those thoroughly in touch with
the public grazing lands differ greatly
as to the amount of land which will
be affected. Owing to the operation
Df the Varip1lc no
location of script, and the acquisition
by some of the western states OF
large tracts of state lands, the area
of the public unappropriated lands
of the west, Familiarity known as the
open range, has steadily decreased
during the past five years. until, on
January l, 1916, the area was approxi-
matelv 270, 900, 600 acres. From the
best information which I can obtain.
this area has been decreased material
~ during the past year, over 1000. 900
acres having passed into private own
ership, leaving an area of about 25S,-
100000 acres of public unappropriated
land to which the stock-raising nome
stead bill would apply.
Men who have a trained knowledge
of public range conditions differ rad
ically as to how large a proportion of
this area can oe taken up by genuine
homesteaders. This proportion. OF
course. is limited entirely by the area
on which, under normal stock raising
conditions, $40 acres will reasonably
support a family. Not only every
fair minded stockman. but every gooC
citizen in the west, ought to welcome
and encourage to the utmost the
genuine homesteader; for a man who
has the nerve, the Drawn and the
pluck to make good under the condi-
tons confronting the homesteader
furnishes just the kind of citizen we
want in this glorious western coun-
try of ours.
IF, as some claim, large proper
ton of the public lands will be 1egiti-
mately taken up under this stock
raising homestead BILL it will IN
doubtedly bring excellent results to
the western country. If, on the other
hand, as many well-in1 ormed men
claim. the area that can be taken up
under this bill is less than 10 per cent
OF the total, it is very evident that
without delay some plan should be de-
vised by the government, along the
lines of the various leasing bills for
so many years discussed before our
conventions. by which the remainder
of this vast area of public lands
may be promptly placed under some
intelligent system of public control
and regulation, in order that their
grazing value may be maintained
waste prevented, and stock produc-
ton increased and encouraged
That the stockraising homestead
bill, to be a successful, constructive
measure. should he based on classifi-
cation of the lands seems to be recog-
nized by all who have studied the
question. and while this act does not
definitely use the word classification
1t does provide that. before lands can
be entered under the act they clna Il