The border vidette., 1933-05-27
CUT ORDERED ON GRAZING
RENTALS

of approximately so per cent in
the rentals on state grazing
lands were ordered yesterday by
the state land board, at the close
OF reclassification hearing
The action means a cut OF one
and one-half cents per acre in
land leases, or reduction in
rentals from three cents an acre
to II cents on grazing lands.
More than 10000 lessees Of
state lands will be affected by
the action. the larger part Of
whom are cattle and sheep men.
Most Of the state lands under
lease are grazing lands.
A survey is to be made. it was
explained by Howard j. Smith,
state land commissioners, of the
agricultural state lands under
lease. to determine the amount of
reduction to be made in rentals.
Ia no case will the rentals be cut
lower than five cents an acre.
n hundreds of cases. the
boards move ia cutting grazing
land leases means a new lease on
life for the stockmen and a
chance to come back again, it
was said.
None of the reductions order
ed will be made except on ap
plication from the lessee. It is
said that every lessee Of state
lands will file for the reduced
rem tails.
The action of the board was
based on a resolution adopted by
an executive committee selected
by the stock men attending the
hearing yesterday. This resolu
ton was adopted by the stock
men and lessees after more than
100 bad testified in behalf of a
reduction and had explained the
need of prompt action.
The resolution pointed out the
low prices now being paid for
livestock and the poor condition
of the ranges, as we'll assthe
general low economic conditions
10 the nation. 1t declared that
immediate relief should be ex
tended through reduction Of
rentals on grazing lands.
The resolution further explain
ed that under the provisions Of
Senate Bill 81, chapter SO OF the
session laws of the 1lth legisla
ture, the land board was author.
lied to extend relief by reducing
rentals. The stockmen in their
document suggested that no field
investigation be made to appraise
the state lands, for the reason
that it would require two years
to bring about fair and equita
BILE appraisement whereas it was
the intent of the legislature to
afford relief at once to save the
industry.
| TT is the sense of this COM
mittee that any relief to be grant
ed should in no event be less
than so per cent of the present
lease rentals" the resolution
concluded.
After receiving the resolution,
the land board ordered that re
duction be made in an amount
equivalent to the amount called
for in the resolution.
Cattlemen from all parts of
the state attended the hearing.
one coming from VOLTS Hole in
the extreme northern part of
Mohave county. Those who
testified explained the need OF
quick action.
AS rapidly as the applications
are received, Smith said, they
will be acted upon. 1t will not
be necessary, he stated, to write
new leases but merely to tack a
rider to each with the new rental
fee stated. A great deal of cler
| ical work will be necessary, how
ever, ia order to amend the
leases.
Agricultural lands we're not
considered yesterday, board mem
bers said, for the reason that
there are comparatively few
such lands under lease as com.
pared to grazing lands. A sur
vey will be made as rapidly as
possible, they said, in order to
make whatever red ductlons are
needed ia such rentals to pro.
vide an equitable and lst fee.
Senate Blll 81, chapter 90, au
thorizes the land board to re-
classify state laEds and to red uce
the rentals to sums not less than
one per cent an acre on grazing
and not less than five cents an