Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1855-10-25
WHY did he Veto IL >

more particularly directed to the subject of the
School Lands, we can readily understand how it
was that the Grand Jury Of Dane County found
it in the way of their duty to indict the present
School Land Commissioners. Entrusted as these
officers were withtle destiny almost of the rising
growing state, the manner in which they Were
discharging and have discharged that trust, very
properly made them subjects for Grand jury
presentment.
| We quoted last week that Section Of the Stat
ute which confers upon the Governor and these
commissioners authority TO withhold the School
Lands until the settlement of the country war
ranted their sale both for the benefit OF the fund
and the benefit of the settlers We helped make
the Statute and know all about it. 1t was tho't
that in many of the counties then well settled
the lands should be sold at once, while it was
supposed in many others, they would not be
wanted and could not be sold adyantageously
for years. Hence the discretion conferred upon
these officers. With knowledge on their part
of the object of the law--it was not supposed
that officers would ever be elected who would
purposely and wilfully violate its Objects and
conspire to rob and plundcr fund so sacred en-
trusted to their charge. But it proves to have
been fatal mistake.
What has been done our readers are already
aware of, but they may rot be so generally aware
that the Commissioners are now moving through
all the remote unsettled counties offering for
sale, the lands yet remaining. We do not recol-
lect exactly how many thousand acres in the I'M
settled region of the northwest have been adyer-
tised but We presume it embraces nearly if not
all the State Lands YET remaining. What is the
possible object of this It is this, that by a
forced construction Of the Statute the Commits
Isioners charge and collect an exhorbitant fee on
every 40 acre tract sold. This is the cause OF
the effort ON their part to sell somehow to some
person every foot Of land there is in the State
The last legislature it viii be rccolected, passed
a bill denying these cxhorbitant and extortonate
fees to the commissioners which Barstow prompt
" retoed The effect Of it is Of course to rob the
fund, and getthe lands into the hands of Speech
lators. In those northern and unsettled coun-
tiles of course the lands are not yet wanted for
use, and those who will eventually use them
are not yet there. Common sense and common
honesty would dictate that they should be un-
sold until the settlement of the county, made
them valuable and sought after. In this way
some Of them would go into the hands of actual
settlers, by presumption at the same prices spec
ulators pay, and others would command the sums
that spectators expect to get for them, which
would so into the School Fund. Our readers
viii understand how the thing is done. The
commissioners pass round through the wilder
ness country and go through the motions of Of
fcring this land for sale. Ofcourse little or none
is sold. They return to Madison when it is all
open to entry at minimum prices. IF runners
have not previously been despatched they are at
once sent out to find the good locations and good
land. They return and the land is at once en-
tered at minimum prices by spectators who
hold 1t for a rise. We alluded last week to the
entries made by residents in our city. We pre-
sumo we We're not at all out of the way in sup
posing that these individuals expected to get at
least 50 per acre for every acre held by them.
This IS over 500, 900, while for the land. they
pay as long as they hold it, only the interest at
per cont, on lGs an acre. Now why might not the
school Fund have these $4,000 instead of q
few men being enriched. What was the ncces-
sity of selling it to them. Why was it not kept
by the commissioners and sold for So per acre
to those who wanted to use it, instead of letting
the 50 go where it does We have no blame
to cast upon these men for jumping at good
bargain, but did not the Commissioners absolute
~ rob the School Fund; and are they not now
robbing it? Our School Fund would be most
magnificent, were it guarded and husbandcd with
honesty; but by this reckless system of plumber
ing it is kept down to its minimum, and the eff
tectiyeness of our system to that extent dimin-
ished And why did Governor Barstow reto the
bill to which we have alluded It was simply
bill to prevent the taking ofcxhorbitant fees by
the Commissioners and fees which il is claimed
the statute does not allow when properly con-
strued. 1t is pretty well understood that the Of
fees Of the School Land Commissioners, are
worth from $1,000 to 5000 per year, and the ef-
feet Of the bill would have been only to reduce
this enormous income and take away the motive
for huryinG the lands into the hands ofspccula
tors. PLY did Governor Barstow Ecto it!