, 1890-02-20
SOME SUGGESTIONS.
How Senator Van Houten
Would Dispose of the Volua-
bio Tide Lands.
Sell Them at Auction After They
Are Appraised by Disinter-
ested Parties.

Senator Van Hou,en, who arrived
from Olympia Friday, was seen
by a REVIEW reporter at night
and speaking Of the tide land matter
said;
"This Is one Of the most knotty
problems that has been presented to
the legislature, and one that has
consumed IA great deal of valuable
time. There can he no doubt that
the state has the only true and law
ful claim. There is of course great
deal of feeling on the Sound over
this matter.
81 saw by the REVIEW this morn
ing that Mr.. Griititts estimates the
value OF the tide lands of Puget
sound at S4OOOo,OOO. think they
are not worth so much as that at
present In my opinion the entire
acreage of tide lands that can now
be put on the market il not worth
more than sl5 900, 900 or $50, on, 600
at the outside.
at would work hardship on
many ofthe smaller towns along the
sound should the state take the
lands. A part ought to be sold, but
not all 10y any means. | was on the
subcommittee composed of mem
hers Of the Joint house and senate
committee on tide lands; aud the
| bill we reported back. and which
I .tNl.st.tFfaI lao tlR tattNf commit
| tee was not 10y any means the entire
sense Of the committee. | fought II
from the start. ! was the only man
that refused Ia go on the trip around
the sound to look at these tide
| lands, and in the subcommittee
worked as hard as | could. |
think the hill as submitted will be
amended In the senate and probably
in the house also.
at was sort of compromise
measure on our part. We were In
the minority and so that some ac-
ton might be taken on the matter
we made concessions, and received
some. have placed myself ON
record as being against the bill,
nor have bound myself to Ito nught
e,-e. The beard of equalization or
appeal, made up the Of secretary of
state, the sipte auditor, and three
men, non residents of any county in
which are tide lands, was part Of
our work. The three appraisers to
he appointed by the governor for
each of the nine counties r., in my
( opinion, not for the best interests OF
| the state. They can not help but
[ show IGrtlality In favor of their own
counties. The report and evidence
taken by the tide land committee,
land which ! insisted should he
printed, show this very conclu-
sively.n
"What point is particularly OBJ
IjoctipEable In the blll?n
"rhc one in regard to the upland
owners, who, the bill says, shall
have the first right 10 purchase the
lands adjoining at the appraised
price for period of ninety days,
| provided no contest Il filed to the
application. Can't you SEQ that
each board Of county appraisers will
put II low valuation on the lands, In
order that their county may mnkc
Il good showing with other couutiUg,
and the state will be the loser.
.NllllIlNl Ilbllt Nltflt llNislFH ilbNt
valuable improvements fronting on
the tide lands. The hill provides
that such shall have the first right
to purchase where they can prove
permission, either by deed or other
wise, ON the part of the upland
owners TO their tenure of the land.
Their right Is, of course, subject To
the same contest of application as
the upland owner.n
"Wmt Is tile most feasible plan
and the best for the state in your
opinion, Mr.. Van Houton?n asked
the reporter
"rhe land should he appraised 10y
n board composed Of men having no
Interest in tide luud counties, thcn
put up ut auction and sold To the
highest bidder, just AZ the new bill
provides for school lands. The only
argument of the Sound people
AGAINST this proposition Is that they
will he thrown into competition
with enemies and straw bidders,
who would overbid and raise the
price to an cSorbItant figure.
81 think that with the tide lands
In their present shape, the state
would BE- Il galucr If no laws at all
were enacted ut this session OF the
Legislature