Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-07-03
SCHOOL LANDS or THE STATE.

SCHOOL iands on luano. The cOnsti- |
tuition provides in Article XIV
Section 1, that the governor, super
intendent Of pu5lic instruction,
secretary of state and attorney gem
erai shall constitute the board Of
land commissioners who shall have
the direction. control and dispo-
sition of the public lands of the
State under such regulations as
may be prescribed by law. A
matter so clearly fixed by the con-
sitution and SO important TO the
citizens Of the State shoaid not be
withheld from the intelligent tax
payer for the education of whose
children SO greatly depends on
honest direction and preservation
of the fund derived from the sale OF
such lands. Though the sessions
Of the land commissioners have
been held at various times within
the last fifteen months and a large
amount Of choice school lands
selected and sold, it does not appear
that the chairman of such board
has ever made report of any kind
so that the transactions that have
taken place in this line may be
made known to the public which is
60 deeply interested.
Governor Norman B. Wiley
cannot be in the dark as to what is
being done in the matter Of the
selection and disposition Of the
school lands within the last eigh-
teen months, nor can he be ignor-
ant Of the desire or wishes Of the
people Of the State in regard TO
this important affair. The laws Of
the State require that the reports Of
departments be made to the gov
ernor whenever he shall require,
and higher law demands that the
governor shall give such reports to
the people when the legislature is
not in session.
Governor Wiley fully under
stands the ugly rumors afioat which
makes it worse, on account of the
disreputable acts charged against
certain State officials. Rumor says
there is much to condemn in the
manner of the selection of the lands,
that agents are on hand at the sales
representing State officers, that the
agent employed by the board Of
land commissioners draws big
salary and liberal expenses besides.
What it would be important
to know and what the public
will know soon is the quantity
Of school lands selected, when and
where and by whom; what kind OF
land. timber or otherwise; when
sold, to whom and for whom; what
amount of money has been received
and from whom; what salary is
paid TO Hon. #. A. Fem; what
amount of fees and expenses has
been incurred; what amount OF
money has been received az the
proceeds of the sales of the school
lands and whether the same has
been loaned out and to whom and
on what security?
1t ia a general belief that certain
parties have borrowed the school
moneys and been enabled TO procure
the same because of very liberal
commissions paid to persons con.
nected with the State board. From
various sources it comes that some
forty or fifty thousand dollars have
been received from the sale Of the
lands and that such amount should
be in hand If not otherwise dispos-
ed OF. In the absence of a session
Of the legislative assembly the gov
ernor, for his own reputation, should
cause statement to be published
in some reliable newspaper Of the
State. Il will not do 10 give the
people mere brief statistical 81 ow-
ing Of figures. They want il all
and will not be satisfied with less
than a detailed report. If the facts
will bear the light they should be
given to those who are entitled TO
the information. 1t may be that
the books in which the transactions
are recorded look oil right and
systematic under the skilful hand
Of the manipulation whom the Re
publican administration of Wiley
imported from Nebraska to perform
that important and special duty
1t is noticed that the leading Re,
publican papers in the southern por
ton Of the State are calling for this
information. II is not n partisan
call, but the demand of the people
irrespective Of party, because, nc
matter What party may be in power
it must be held responsible fol
: every dime of the school funds o
, the State, which is sacred inheri
lance of the childred living and yei
unborn.
/, -~~~--
: DR.. Silya and Mr.. Wolcott hav'
contracted with the Cox sage brusl