The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-08-09
THE PUBLIC LANDS
Action Deferred Until Next
Tuesday.
no zxDx LANDS rR0yYsO.
Ihey are Left to the DfspSsition 81
the Lsgisiaturs-The state
Cspifal Questios.

oso AeSt 20 tho DtapOs1tfo1 at
the Lsxisiaturs-The state
Capital Qaestics.
OLYMPIA, Aug. s.-This was the day
set for the beginning Of the considera-
ton OF the public land question. and
most OF the delegates from west of the
mountains went to the convention in
the full expectation that the great
question was about to be settled.
Dunbar, chairman of the committee,
was ready and 80 was cosgroye. who
had subruitted a minority report az
long as the original, bat Suksdorf and
Turner and Grifiitts wanted to delay
matters and they led a movement
against present action. Snksdori
moved to recommit. and when that
failed MeElroy asked 10 postpone
until next Tuesday. This. after
vigorous debate. was carried and the
matter went over. The pubic lands
have been the bagaboo that has
threatened trouble and discussion
whenever it was taken Up ard the
western men We're particularly anx-
ious that matters should be brought 10
an issue now and a solution reached.
1t is probable the discussion will
last the greater part of next week.
Turner. il is said. has prepared long
speech and Griifitts and Moore will
doubtless have good deal To say.
DIR. Minor has made this subject a
special study and his voice viii be heard
when the time comes. Stiles of Taeoma,
has also been posting himself and viii
advocate the views of the riparian
owners. .Dnrie. OF King, will say
nothing but the several signers of the
minority reports are loaded and
primed, and they will contribute TO
the length, il not to the interest, OF
the debate.
NO DISPOSITION or TIDE LANDS.
Casual scrutiny OF the majority re-
port on the public lands leaves the
mind uncertain as To what is intended
TO be done with the public
lands or the tide lands. but
a critical examination discloses
that according to this report
nothing is 10 be done. The entire ar
ticle is but restriction upon the legis-
lature in its method of disposing of
the lands. The article directs enly
that the lands shall not be sold until
the market value of the estate or in
terest thereon shall be ascertained in
such manner as may he prescribed by
law. Beyond this there is nothing bat
disclaimer on the part of the state OF
any right 10 lands covered by patents
of the United States. and reserva-
ton is made that the right-of-way
over tidal lands shall not be denied
when required for any public purpose.
The remaining provisions are for
granted lands, which il is well known,
are not tide lands. The legislature,
therefore, can dispose of these
lands as IL sees fit. It
can sell them or il can lease them. Ii
can give the possessor prior right of
purchase, or il can show no fayors To
any. 1t can regard the Improvements
on the lands or il can ignore them. II
can determine for itself and i'm its ows
way the nature and extent OF the only
limitation placed upon il, that they
shall be sold only for their full value
All this If the majority report is
adopted. Minority reports are num-
erous. There Is practical agreement
upon the school and granted land
question, but several ways are sug-
gested OF disposing of the tide lands.
The fight. however, will be on the
main report, and the question will be.
! Will the matter be left in this manner
10 the legislature, or will express
direction he made as To disposition
OF the public or tide lands7
THE PEOPLE WILL pEcIrE.
The capital question will he voted
upon on the first Tuesday in October,
at the same time with the constitution.
The two articles on state institn-
/ tions and public buildings were
I brough, up this morning and were
rushed through 10 final passage be-
+ fore the noon recess. An attempt
made hy Convey. of Olympia. to have
/ the settlement of the matter post
roncd until 1856. and propositions TO
defer until issa and again until isSfs.
/ failed. Reed. of Olympia. chairman
of the committee, took occasion 10 de
nounce statements made in papers
| east OF the mountains concerning his
action. and protested that he desired
the question settled fairly and esuit-
ably. Under the peculiar provisions
OF the article ii Is altogether likely
that conclusion Of the capital con-
tsoversy will not be reached until 1881.
THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
Consideration of greater part of
the forty sections OF tie report of the
committee on Legislative department
was nuishsd ia committee of tie
whole this afternoon, and the entire
article will have been disposed Of by
tomorrow noon. The general features
, Ds thi- article had been pretty well
agreed To hy the Republicans, and
there Was little inclination ea their
part 10 debate. Gyiglists was inclined
tn b. critical of It's provisions aud led
the Democratic contingent IN an
assault that was only series ol fail.
nrcs. until section e was reached
This provided that the state printing
he done hy contract, and il was sSol
ishesl aTsou close vote. Section .,
whieh provided with. great deal 81
. ciTcsmlocs1iton. the manner ia which
legislators should be Sworn and threat
eued them with Gire and summary
punishment IL they htoke sheir oaihs
SAS likewise stricken ont A part .
section :. which allowed ali citizens u
tss electors o{ the frs; legisEatare. va
also omitted. leaving genera! require
ment that no citizen - eligible @hs
. has not Seen fer tao years a resiten
!, OF the stale. Several OF the paragraph
. os section 50, relating i.s special legis
lasian, wsre aiso l~ft out.
/, oSCE gRggr 1EgArG
81 tsriffsss vii tomorrow subEass a
? amendment - section :. prwTSsisnl
!. that = reorganization 81 the sssasizfa-
: ne made oFsce every ten years, cssl.
i after the gassaasa census instead q
: twice dar3Eg tie decade ss now pro
+ psssess.
r TaE nENuSkATEs eUSx ~ EseS.
d Delegate Warner, who is etsasrrta
= Of the Democratic territorial cenfss