The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-08
A UNIVERSITY BILL.
Measure Drawn Providing for
Transfer of Site.
COMMITTEE WORK YESTERDAY
Captain r. n. johnson, of the Board OF
Regents. Explains Provisions of
Proposed Act.

The committee appointed &c Friday nights
meeting at The Chamber Of Commerce 10 draw
bill for the legislature providing for the transfer
OF the state university sito met yesterday after
noon. Mr.. w. Lair Hill. representing the city OF
Seattle, Captain 2. b. johnson, of Walla " ala,
for the regents, Mr. r. w. Jones, for the city
council, and Mr.. Thomas w. Prosch, for the
Chamber Of Commerce, were present. measure
prepared by Captain johnson was amended IN
several minor details and then approved by the
committee II will be taken to Olympia by Cap
tain johnson this week. He explained the yari-
GUS provisions and his reasons for proposing
them In substance rs follows:
IT il proposed by the bill 10 provide way for
securing site, erecting university buildings
and paving the cost without permanently taxing
money from the general treasury q the state. y
is proposed, incidentally, to ascertain the exact
status ofthe grant of lands 20 the state Tor uni
yersity purposes, so that future legislatures may
act iuteliigently IN regard TO their disposal
By the first section the state dfselaims all
title to any lands first reserved and then
"granted" to the state for university purposes
sold before the act Of congress, approved March
II. 1864, providing for the confirmation OF sales
OF those lands made under presumed legislative
authority prior TO that date. This should be
done because the parties who purchased before
that date are entitled to have any possible cloud
removed from their title.
Tho next section asserts the claim by the
sa.e o. tue 70 se All isnns soo ai'eF
justice to the university and does
not iTlpair any right possessed by any person
claiming 70 have made bona fide purchase
OF I889go which became n law without the sig
nature Of the governor March y, 1890. such per
sons are given way to make good In the courts
their claim to title Another section authorizes
the board to employ counsel in the absence of
tie attorney general. This makes 1t possible
for the state 60 appear in court ard defend its
right to any land claimed to have been bought
and sold bona Iide after March IA, 1861 This is
necessary because the Get of the legislature
frin their title does not direct any one to APP
pear for the state ard Sesist the claim.
board is created whose duties are 70 inquire
into oil matters relating 10 the lands granted to
tie state of Washington for university purposes,
and report to the governor. This is necessary,
ss no one is now authorized to do so. This board
as also 70 endcayor TO enter into an arrangement
with the city Of Seattle to secure 10 the state
clnar title to the ten acres in that city, now used
aud known as the University site, and to sell
the same. The board is also authorized 70 Sc
lect aud secure q new site for the university, OF
moi less than loo acres, within SIX miles OF the
court house II King county, to prepare
ami 20 cree. thereon proper buildings and other
GDpyaniencrs. In the performance Of this labor
tic beard il authorized 70 employ an architect,
e offer premium Tor plans, to employ a COM
refeut builder. etc. These things should be, be-
cailse an architect to supervise the construction
al buildings is necessary, while by offering
premium for designs and plans 1t Is possible to
obtain a better plan than BY designating any
architect to prepare one, no matter how cOnlpe-
tent he may be. while competent mechanic as
foreman OF building ~ as necessary as plans for
the buildings.
II is proposed 70 make the commissioner OF
public lands member of the board because its
duties pertain largely to matters in his depart
nlent II IL proposed TO make QUO of the regents
Of the university member of the building
board, because those who are 10 govern the uni
seTsity are entitled to voice in deciding the
character Of the buildings to be constructed. 1t
is proposed 10 make citizens members of the
board so y % obTain the benefit OF their know
10 -
the members Of the board secretary thereof, be-
cause the proceedings OF body having the
powers and duties O the board should be kept
and their action certified with the seal of the
board BIZ some ono who. az member of the
board will be acquainted with and partially re-
EponsihIe for its acts
It is proposed to provide an Office in the city
of Seattle in which to keep the books and ae-
counts OF the board, because it is there, or near
there, that its business will be transacted. ire
quires the ten acre tract to be appraised before
1t u sold IN order TO prevent, as near rs may be.
collision and fraud. 1t is proposed that the
'ppraissrs saasi ne APPOINTED By the governor,
80 TO avoid connivante. 1t requires the
board to advertise the time, place and terms OF
the widest possible notice and obtain the
greatest possible competition at the sale
II requires the money received from the sale OF
the ten acres, or irom other sources to be placed
In separate fund, TO be known as the uuiyer-
sity fund, from which all the expenses shall be
paid on warrants drawn by the state auditor
upon the pRftllftu accounts or the naard it
proposes that all appropriations made out OF the
general fund for the expenses authorized by the
act shall be returned TO the general fund from
the university fund. II proposes that IL any
bidder shah refuse to pay the first installment
oi purchase money on the tract Knocked down
90 him II shall be lawful to award it to the next
highest bidder, or To re-advertse and
sell y again, proposes That no
sold for less than the appraised price in order
&c prevent collision and fraud 1t proposes
thar II school land is selected as the site for the
new University buildings, the land selected
shall be forever reserved from disposal or sale
and dedicated 10 educational purposes
Il proposes that the school fund shall not be
reduced for the benefit of the University by the
reservation and dedication OF the land selected,
but that the appraised value OF school land Sc
lected shall be pail out OF the University fund
into the pefmanens school fund This is done
because under the granting act and
the constitution, school land cannot be
The proposal Is that the state, which is the
owner OF the university and OF the school land
sasiI reserve part OF the school land from sale
forever, ard devote IL TO educational purposes
by establishing and maintaining great fnstitu-
TOT. o. learning on IT, and that IN so doing il
shal not ueplefe the public school fund, but
shall put into ii cash to the value OF the land
reserved. THIS Is legal ana proper, because the
ianu Was grained 70 the state for educational
purposes, with the prohibition that the state
shall not sdHpose OF the land granted EXCEPT
hy pDh'fe sale 4 refusal TO seli
q piece OF land is nos disposal
chs tract of land granted 10 the stale for t
o tort OF public schools and devote il To higher
rosaucAtUn upon the pay sacnt into the reru1aIleu4
eAaooi fund OF The appraised value OF the land
MS Ntsl, = Dot q sale or disposal Of Tho granted
no. because Tire title 20 the land reserved rssts
.Hsyhe state. Ii Is ike q man Transferring
sned rs sfom his right hand pocket 20 his left
ed. tn, Ipcket the dollars belonging 10 HIM no