Show National Forest Service Plans Plans- Plans j- j To Double Grazing Fees l'- l' in 1926 1 j ul J r It Is the thc intention of ot the tho forest 1 service if the new secretary or agriculture agriculture ag rig- to be March 4 is agreeable gradually to double grazing fees tees In national forests starting the increase in 1926 The I attitude of ot the service w was s made pH plain by Chief Forester Gree ey while testifying before re the house I appropriations committee ol littee on the tI e ag agricultural ag- ag ng-I ng bill bilI t 1 Colonel Greeley said aid the forest service had just com completed eted an n e exhaustive ex cx- appraisal of oC the va value ue o or of tub range in in all aU national l for forests sL I These reports he hedde added Hindi indi indicate c cate t that a f fair ir comp compensation for to use of our rang ranges ranges' s' s In comp comparison rison with what whar-Is' whar Is n siow v p paid id for for or sJ similar land In fit ll state a and ild id ri e ownership i. i be ab about i t d double our exist existing n fees ees and th aud-th the poli policy y of the dep depart depart- rt- rt me it is to put the new lie sch schedule dule aule or Z i g grazing gIang az ng fees h Into lo effect on a graduated af d' d scale beg beginning with the tue I livestock tock industry has has' sh wn a J substantial l recovery Secretary Sec See rotary Wallace Vallace made It clear that he ho to would not put any UlY Increases into er ct- ct ct feet until the stock business han haa shown a substantial recovery from th the present depression When en that conies comes about it is our program to put the higher fees tees Into effect on a aI gr graduated scale unless congress I should stop h. h Rests Bests With l D Department I In rel reply to tp questions Colonel Greeley said that grazing fees are art not flOt fixed by law but by departmental tal tn order the courts having hold that th the fixing of ot fees lees was entirely In the hands of the secretary of ot t turo ro re Your Investigation n Ui then than n shows Interjected ted Representative yc Va Wagon on that t the federal federal govern govern- government mont ment has been beon beau gl giving privileges to other owners of ot grazing land state state and Individual ual 1 It shows replied replica Colonel ri tirco- tirco cJ- cJ le hey ley that these forest forest ranges have haSe i I been used for Tor considerable less leas than similar sl nilar lands owned by private ate in- in j or by tho the states or by In- In lian illan reservations I In answer to f further questions Colonel Greeley admitted that the tho average 3 private and state grazing t hinds ands were wor more snore favorably located than tho the forest lands landIs and had better bettor forage In limiting their appraisal a I however forest service experts he sid said had rated the national forest j r jUi Ji orth 70 Oto to SO 80 pOI percent elt ot or i what Iii the privately lr Jt d was VmS worth orth and anti even even on that basis balls existing exist exist- I ing fora forest t grazing gracing fees sire aro only about half hate what they should be on onan j jan I Ian an average t Colonel Greeley also t told ld tile the co committee com com- that he had submitted his proposed scale of oC grazing fees tees to to livestock associations ns and nearly all o of them them replied We cant can't que question tion v 1 your findings as to comparison between between be- be t f tween private land values to grazing grazing- gr 1 fees on government la lands that lands ds that that 1 ik is J 1 many of or them do Jf J 1 Loss Lossin in t. Nonpayment f i v vi 1 11 r 1 i Th The discussion 1 of i whole hole grazing i I fees was brought br up by Colonel 1 Greeleys S statement that during ing tAe tao I laSt p st- st th three ee years years when grazi grazing fees I j J I i I havet have t aggregated the 1 I for forest forst st st. service has lost o 12 t through th failure of few a-few Do s' s t their glaZ grazing fees e Small a ai aa jJ jJr r i is this tills per percentage ent members o or of the I committee thought the situation ol Ji I presented is a serl serious one one and one osie member her inquired If t there lere Is Is' Is no 1 I the government pan ah get get to to 1 i insure all grazing fees being pam paIl I Colonel Greeley explained that d during dur dur- r t ting ing lug the days of ot depression in the fi livestock industry these particular lar growers have b been en mortgaged mortgage l for every dollar that tha their property r will stand and in Ill lonie some c cases cases es for considerably more snore than their property prop pro df erty ts s worth a and d there has ha been i no form torm of or security the government could obtain This explanation did did not sat satisfy Y J and Representative Buchanan of ot f fI I Texas suggested that congress should enact a law to to the effect that the tho government should take a lien Hen upon upon livestock permitted to graze In tJI tim national forests forests this thi lIe lien to have have a B preference preter nce over over all an other liens ia in in eluding those of banks that loan money on livestock In that way I he ho suggested the government rl be able to collect its grazing fees tees in h till fun Other members of the committee seemed to think this should be don J I and Rud Colonel Greeley when wIlen asked his hl J opinion replied I I do not think it I would have o an adverse effect up upon n I the Interests of ot the stock producers producer particularly I rather think that such a a. law Jaw would be desirable nt h added Colonel further e ex explained ox- ox 1 plumed that a portion of the tho grazing ius fees rees luring during the last two years ears have ha been paid by tho the P- P PI I banks which which a arc aro o car carrying the tho stocKmen stocK stocK- 7 men the he banks paying fees to lo i conserve the tho property as ns a n basis for or of ot their loans T recognize ho lie added the need or ot protecting the grazing interests by I.- I. 01 paying the fees tees S 'S c t |