The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-08-31
SCHOOL Lands and Other
Claims.

Commonwealth. 49,
We presume some of our readers
are not familiar with the claims
which the state of Kansas has
upon the United States, some oi
them since our admission. Kansas
claimed that iE was entitled to land,
as an equivalent, for the 18th and
36th sections of ell the Indian res
ervations which were in the state at
the date of our admission. We
have set this claim sp over and over
again. but for some reason never
had hearing before the proper bu-
reeu st Washington, or at least new
or got any decision.
We have also claimed 5 per cent.
of the amount of all Indian lands
disposed Of, the same as though the
lands had belonged to the govern
ment at the time of sale; also, we
have claims growing out of the
Price raid and Indian depredations.
For years the executive officers of
the state have recommended that an
agent be appointed to go to Wash
ington and prosecute these claims.
Bills have been introduced into the
legislature providing for the ap-
pointment of such agent and uni
formly have been voted down, a
mai oritY of the members being con-
trOIled by the blataut cry of dema-
gogues that it was only making a
soft place for somebody.
During the past two years ex-GoV.
Crawford has been in Washington a
good deal of the time, and being
pea fectIy acquainted with the histo-
ry of each claim has been hunting
up decisions and preparing the way
for q successful prosecution of them.
Last winter he succeeded in getting
an act passed authorizing the gov
ernor, by and with the advice and
consent of the senate, to appoint an
agent. The act provided that un-
der no circumstances should the
state become responsible for any ex.
pense whatever, if nothing was re-
ceiVed. 1t also provided that no
money should be paid to the agent,
but If the claims were allowed the
money should be given direct to the
state. Notwithstanding the fact
that no money was to be paid to the
agent, and he was to get no CON-
pensation if he did not succeed, YET
he was put aBder bonds Of $4,000
for the faithful performance of his
duty. The act provided that the
governor, auditor and attorney gen.
eral of the state, together with the
agent, shonld fx his compensation
in case he succeeded.
Section four provides for this pay.
ment in case lands were received
and reads as follows:
In case any lands are secured to tn,
state for school purposes or otherwise, by
| such agent, then he shall be paid for hi
services IN their behalf In lands at q
price to be determined by the governor
auditor and attorney general of state, bu
| not more than One-tenth of the whole
amount OF lands so secured by such agent
Governor Anthony appointed
| Mr.. era W ford as agent, and he filed
his bonds, and went to Washington
at his own expense, and has prose
cuted the claim for school lands tC
q successful issue. We presume
that he will succeed In the otheI
claims. They are ali just and should
be paid. This one for school land,
has always been considered the
most doubtful one.
The lands will have to be seIec-
ted in such manner as the legislature
may direct. In the case of the sa
line, agricultural college, normal
school and university lands, the leg.
islature provided for the appoint
ment of q commission to make the
selection, and that is the usual
course in such cases. The lands
have to be selected from unsold
government lands within the state
and ss there will be no session OF
the legislature until 1879, they can.
not be selected until some time dur.
ing that year. This is unfortunate
as ere that time it is probable that
all the best government lands in the
state will have been homesteaded