The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1932-01-08
CONFERENCE ON
LEASING TERMS
INDIAN DEPT MEN LUNCH
WITH BUSINESS MEN
OF WOLF POINT

At the suggestion OF Supt. Nc
Cullough OF the Fort Peck reeerva
ton a group OF local business mer
and Commercial club members
lunched Thursday noon at the
Sherman cafe with the superin'
tendent and three other depart
mert and federal men, Nj. Ru'
dolph, MI. Montjoy and Mr.. Fister,
Alex Sansaver, president of the
Indians agricultural association
was also with the party. Tom
Ryan and Charley Hall. prominent
Indian stockmen came during the
discussion.
The purpose OF the meeting was
to try to reach a better under
standing of the new leasing slip
ulations, recently adopted by the
Interior and Indian departments
to apply to the Fort Peck reserva-
ton lands, both grazing and farm
ing, and Of the objections OF the
stock men, ranchers and Indians
to those s~tipulations.
While waiting for luncheon to
be served the Commercial Club
men, who included a number OF
Lions, sang several good will,
good cheer and welcoming songs.
There we're no extended
speeches. The discussion was car
ried on conversational style. Good
feeling prevailed and a few new
facts about the new terms were
learned. Chiefly that the grazing
period for cattle and horses was
IL months instead of z months as
reported. Is was also established
that the terms are NOW IN FORCE
and are not contingent on the In
dams giving power of attorney to
the superintendent. No leases have
been signed under the new terms
and no bids for permits on blocks
of Land have been received.
Supt. Mccullough asked that the
objections generahzed In the Com
mercial club resolutions be made
specific. In response to this 1t was
brought out that with the per acre
rate of Is cents the Indians have
received in the past and the re-
quirement OF 80 acres for each COW
or horse, and 6 acres for each
head of sheep, grazing costs, add
ed to other expense, would leave
the stockman loser at present
prices of beef, lambs and wool.
Another important objection was
that with the competitive bidding
system employed small stock own
ers and farmers of reservation Land
could never be sure of securing
the land that they must have to
continue their operations. The
superintendent said he would try
to look out for the farmers and
small ranchers If the new terms
continued in force. But he declin-
GU W pdy thdl ho hdQ uIAO ny
to modify the terms stipulated. But
he thought all concerned are more
alarmed at the new rules than
they need to be.
The bonds required of those 1eas-
ing land is another feature of the
terms that will be hard to
meet.
It was mentioned that in the
past grazing privileges have been
abused and parts Of the reservation
have been over-grazed. 1t was NUT
agreed that there should be
means provided to control these
abuses which represent the OPP
extreme from a grazing
of $3.50 and 80 cents per
head. (,
The Indians feel that they will
.ose because the prospect at pres ,
ent is very poor to lease their
.ands under the terms. At the !
end of the discussion there was
yagueness as to just what will
happen. But it was felt the future ]
If diversified farming and stock
on the reservation is dub ]
GUS il the new terms are not great
y modified. Supt. Mccullough stat 4
ID that he was going to Washing I
on next week when the whole ]
natter will be considered. If the I
lew rules are not rescinded he said I
le would do all he could to have s
hem changed in important parti- J
,ulars to tit the local situation. |
The local business men left the .
Meeting feeling as convinced as ,
before that their objections are ,
yell founded and that a reasonable
adjustment Of the matters in point ,
s OF vital Importance to all who +,
ire financially concerned in the ,
Fort Peck Observation-Disclosures,
Itock men, Indians and business I.
men. The new stipulations are ,
.luttered with numerous iron clad I
'estrictions and red tape details j.,
which may be all right for forest I,
'eserves but r not adaptable to Z
N Indian reservation dotted with :
he holdings of ranchers who must 2