The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1962-11-02

The present controversy on state
grazing rentals had its beginnings
in the 1859 session when Gov.
Aronson urged the legislators to
raise the grazing fees as he felt
they were too low. The state was
only receiving % cents per AUM.
This amount was even lower than
what the state was receiving for
its lands at the bottom of the de-
preston in 1882!
Rep. Leuthold and myself intro
duced separate bills to raise rentals.
The Leuthold bill called for a rental
of $1.75 per AUM. My bill asked 80
cents per AUM. Although my bill was
by far the most conservative it met
with immediate violent and bitter
opposition. After a fierce bipartisan
legislative battle the grazing bill
passed the House by a wide margin
setting a figure of rs cents per AUM.
STOCKMEN KILLED 1859 BILL
A bipartisan coalition of stockmen
and almost solid Republican opposi-
tion in the Senate killed the House
bill and substituted their own watered
down version. The House refused to
accept this bill and after some of the
bitterest fighting of the session for
mula change that would give "A cents
per AUM for 1860 was agreed upon
plus an extra bonus of ten cents for
1860 only, thus making a rental of
81 cents. One irate stockman said
the ten cents was added on to "shut
Bardanouve up.
Although we fell short of what we
felt was an adequate rental, we did
make one permanent gain which al
ready has added, and will continue
TO add many dollars to the school
funds. This was the change that elimi-
mated 25 per cent reduction in the
'ental formula that was granted all
,tockmen in order for them to make
improvements on these
state leases. Actually this gimmick
,ordered on a racket as renters of
'tate lands didn't even know their
'ent was reduced 25 per cent to make
conservation improve
nents on their state land leases.
Much has been said about the ''tre-
nendous" increase the 1859 legisla-
ure made in rental fees. Until the
of the temporary ten cents |
or one year only, we made no change |
n the law except to eliminate the |
5 per cent conservation gimmick'
which had been inserted several years
PREVIOUSLY and which had deprived
Iontana's schools of hundreds of
thousands of dollars.
light FORCED MIC STUDY
One result of the legislative fight
ras that the legislature directed the
legislative Council to make a study
f school lands. The twelve member,
bipartisan council made a compre-
ensive study and prepared many
for the 1861 Leg
lature.
This report set the stage for an
other historic battle in the 1861
session. The basic recommendation
was that a new formula be adopted
hat would have brought $1.O1 per
AUM for 1861, rather than the ac-
:ual 48c which was eventually re-
:eived.
The political complexion of the
'61 House was changed consider
Wy from that of the 1859 House.
ne Councils bill was introduced by
bipartisan group of three Republi-
ms and three Democrats. This time
e opposition completely dominated
e House. The bill was killed in COM
ttee. Again a very bitter battle
Cured on the floor when an at
mpt was made to save the bill.
hen it became obvious that there
Is no chance to do so, I rose and
omised the House that if they
'uld save the bill would offer
to it that would reduce
3 rental to 75c, the same figure
opted by the 1869 House. Despite
= fact that in 1859 Republican
,islator and a vice president of the
,ntana Stockgrowers Association,
d supported this figure, my offer
i on deaf ears and the bill was
erwhelmingly defeated by almost
id Republican opposition, plus
" Democratic votes.