| Show NO INCREASE THIS YEAR IN GRAZING v FEES ON FORESTS there will be no increase during m grazing fees on national forests but beginning with 1928 and extending over a period of several years a gradual increase will be put into effect such was the announcement made this week by secretary jardee of the department of agriculture in an address before the american national livestock convention held at salt lake city secretary jardines speech which will prove interesting to all stock men follows after considering carefully all of the statements made at yesterdays meeting I 1 desire at this time to an bounce my decision regarding grazing fees on the national forests I 1 am anxious to have this matter settled immediately to clear the air f controversy and to prepare the way for much more effective cooperation between the stockmen stoc kmen and the forest service in dealing with the many problems and improvements where our interests are mutual the department of agriculture will stretch a point to be absolutely fair to the grazing permit tees on national forests we leave no intention cf charging the full commercial values that be justified by comparison with private lands or of getting all that the traffic would bear we want to maintain the social and economic relationships that have always been considered in the allotment and administration of the ranges in national forests we dont want to charge anything that exceeds the reasonable capacity of the sheep man and the cow man to pay under the conditions confronting them during alie next few years at the same time the department of agriculture must be just and fair to all the interests entitled to con in the administration of the national forests we can not ignore the obligation which these areas bear as public properties maintained and developed at public expense and with varied resources which many classes and groups of american people are entitled to utilize or enjoy specifically we can not ignore the return which the counties and county schools obtain from the receipts derived from the uses of the national forests it is my purpose to harmonize these two viewpoints or these two obligations ligat ions of the department as fairly as the limitations of human judgment will permit I 1 want particular ly to aid in establishing the livestock industry in such fair relationship to the national forest interests and public obligations as a whole that it may hive a stable and assured therein I 1 believe it would be short sighted and il advised foi the ingua arv to sacrifice ahn c ui y to iu of some sm ill sal tam in line with these various considerations erat ions I 1 have approved recommendations submitted to me today hi chief of the forest service in accordance with which no increases in grazing fees previously recommended bv the forest service and by sir casement which represent material reductions belov the original range appraisals will be put into effect on a graduated scale brinning bg inning with 1928 and extending to 1931 the full rates under this schedule will be applied during the years from 1931 to 1934 inclusive when these full amounts are put into effect the aberge increase in the rate for cattle on all of the national forests will be from 10 4 cents per head per month to cents and for sheep from 2 9 cents per head per month to 45 cents in accordance with a request of the head of the forest ser vice furthermore an opportunity will be provided to further re dictions duct ions which may be found equit able in adjusting the fees fairly as between the different national for and regions and ta make adlet ments which may be needful to establish equitable fees between ohp different allotments on each national foredt 1 have also approved the recommendation men dation of the chief of the forest service that in view of the social and economic purposes embraced in the administration of grazing and the interests of the general public in the nathionel nat ionel forests this schedule of fees be established as representing fair compensation for national forest ranee under present conditions and furthermore this being in my judg ment the most important feature cf the program no changes in this schedule of grazing fees will be made for the ten year period beginning i 1935 unless there should be a ina terdal change in the conditions exist ing at that time which affect the equitable determination cf fair acm sensation pensa tion for national forest range in other words while the principle of fair compensation for the use of national forest range is recognized in the interest of all the leonle 0 the united states we will apply that principle in a moderate way with moderate increases adjusted to the exi stiner conditions in the industry and with assurance against future changes unless the present conditions are mi changed this should set at rest the idea that the department of agriculture is out to get all that the traffic will bear it is also part of our program to employ the best efforts of the depart anent to secure anaple appropriations for range improvements in the national forests and to make a careful study of the practicability of delit relit ing grazing fees in subsequent range appraisals to the current market value of livestock products 1 I ami not yet satisfied that such a method is practicable but we will give it thorough investigation in order to I 1 ascertain definitely whether the value of livestock products in central mar bets may afford the most equitable basis of range appraisals for future use and now let me emphasize reemphasize re the hope that we may put this controvert sy behind us and that today may mark a new period of effective co operation between the agencies of department of agriculture and the livestock interests in developing th full possibilities for usefulness of the national forest ranges |
