The Glenwood post., 1924-02-28
SENATOR PAlPpsN
INTRODUCES GRAZING BILL
(oontinuer from page IL


measurement, insofar as the great body
of our public, lands then offered any
inducement to the settler. The pas
sage of this act through congress was
attended by constant struggle be
tween the large stock growers and the
proponents of the small stock farm
modelled somewhat upon the Nebraska
Kinkaid act, which had been put into
successful operation in 1904, with the
ultimate victory to the homesteader.
1t was argued then strenuously by the
stockmen that most of our remaining
lands were best adapted to grazing and
that to permit their inclusion in home
the speculative use of such privilege,
which would ultimately result in the
absorption of title by the monopolistic
stock grower, whereas a system of
grazing under federal control would
insure the conservation of grazing for
age and at the same time prevent un-
due monopoly of the range.
The stock raising act of 1916 has
now been in operation seven years and
by the last annual report of the COM
missioner Of the general land office,
patents Hereunder have been issued
up to the end Of the fiscal year 1923,
to cover 7,141,174 acres. The COM
missioner staes in his report that the
lands best adapted to the purpose in
tended by the act have been largely ap-
propriated, leaving only lands that
could not in small bodies of $40 acres
offer any inducement to the bona fide
homesteader, hence he looked with fa-
vor upon some law that would provide
for broader and more adaptable plan
for the use Of our grazing lands.
The Senate Bill 1926 "To authorize
and regulate the grazing of livestock
on the unreserved public domain and
for other purposes" has its origin in
the experience and observation of the
land department, and affords a worka-
BILE plan for the utilization of our re-
naming grazing lands, without in any
manner disturbing the operation of ex-
isting public land laws. Special atten-
tion is given in the bill to present con-
ditions as they exist in the grazing
areas, SO that the residents and stock
feeders in such communities viii have
first consideration in the matter of se-
curing a permit or right to use the
grazing privilege. This is recogni-
ton of q certain equity in this class,
growing out of the long continued en-
joyment of the free grazing privilege,
that has resulted in many forms of in
vestment incident to stock feeding;
which would not otherwise have been
made.
Full provision is made in the bin for
the prevention Of any undue monopoly
by individuals through a system Of re-
adjustments from time to time within
areas covered by grazing permits, SO
that new interests which may arise in
community can receive consideration
in the apportionment of grazing rights
The administration of the proposed
act is placed in Che Interior department
under which by statute all other pub.
lie land laws are administered. BY
this provision the possibility of con.
flicts between permittees under this
measure, and claimants under the vari.
GUS public land laws governing the dis
position of our agricultural and min
eral lands, will be largely eliminated.
This bill If it becomes law will only
be one more public land law to be car.
ried into force by the secretary of the
interior, with due regard to all rights
that may be asserted under other pub
lie land laws. Any other provision in
the matter Of jurisdiction could only
result in endless conflicts with no su.
pervisory control in any one depart
mant.
With this measure in operation the
present available grazing areas of pub
Aic AhHuo WAA 10 pfoco1Nou % Bfebs
national asset; public feeding grounds
will increase in productivity and the
states in turn derive fair return fol
the lands that are retained in federal
ownership. Without some restrictive
control over our remaining grazing
areas the time is not far distant when
through over-grazing native forage
will practically disappear from oui
public lands. There is yet, however
q large area Of our public lands left
where the public pasturage may yet
be preserved, notably in the following
states: Colorado, with 7,753,129 acre,
of vacant, unreserved public lands;
Montana, with 5,9os, ,156 acres; Nevads