Show Decision on Grazing Fee Expected in Jan WASHINGTON WASHINGTON-T h he e government probably Will decide early in 1969 whether to in- in increase Increase crease the charge for most western who graze their cattle on public lands The proposal announced Nov Nov- November November ember 16 already has produced more than letter to the Agri AgrIculture culture Departments Department's Forest Service A spokesman for the Interior Departments Department's Bureau of Land Management estimated his agency's correspondence on the controversial plan about the same Both said sentiment ap- ap appears ap pears to be equally divided be- be between between tween protests and acceptance of the The charge for Forest Ser Ser- Service vice permits ranges from 19 cents to per cow per month an average of 51 cents permits issued by the Bureau of Land Management cost 33 i cents Both oth agencies propose the charges be scaled to a fair market value level of over a year 10 period The American National Cattle Cattle- Cattlemen's mens men's Association described the increase as astronomical and unjustified President Bill House has urged all interested persons and organizations to ask Congress to intervene Reginald M De Dc Nb director of the Forest Services Service's Division of Range Management said more weight will be given corn com ments from the approximately National Forest Advisory Boards which he expects to be be- be begin gin arriving soon than to pro pro- protests tests like that from ANCA In In- In tenors National Advisory Board will debate the proposition in a meeting at San Francisco Wed Wed- Wednesday of this week The departments will accept comment through December 31 The record then will be closed and a final decision is expected within a relatively short time De Nio Nb said the heart of the controversy is the value of the grazing permit when for ex ex- ex example ample the holder sells his land |