The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-10-20
THE UNIVERSITY LANDS SALE.


a great deal of noise has been made
about the duty of the Governor to
investigate some complaints from Utah
county people, about the sale of Uni
versity lands by the Commissioners
elected for that purpose. The Herald
gave a full explanation of the circum-
stances attending the sale of lands on
the Provo bench when the outcry was
first made. We pointed out the incon-
sistency of appealing to the Governor,
and showed that the only recourse was
to the courts.
Our unamiable morning contem-
porary espoused the cause of the ap-
pealers, and boiled over with wrath
against The Herald for suggesting the
courts as the source of relief. We
were represented as unfeeling and cas-
1ous to the cries of the poor, and be-
rated in the usual manner of that sheet
when at a, loss for an argument. We
were, in truth, simply pointing out the
only means of settling the grievance.
The Governor was away at the time
and the acting Governor came in for
his share of the abuse. And it was
intimated that as soon as the Govern
or returned there would be a full in
vestigation and the fur would begin
to fly. 1t was of no avail that it was
shown clearly that the executive had
nothing to do with the matter.
Now comes the unamiable with a
report of an interview with the Gov
e.nor on the question. and the follow
ing as his remarks:
'"The law" said he, provides that
the University Land Commissioners
shall locate land and when sold APP
praise it's value. When sold a certifi-
cate of sale is presented to the secre-
tary of the board of regents of the
University, and it then becomes the
duty of the Governor and Secretary of
the territory to sign the deeds. In
this matter I have no other alternative
but to comply with the law, and if
wrong done by the Commissioners the
settlers must appeal to the courts for
redress or secure relief by a legisla-
tive enactment.
The conclusion that paper has
reached at last is: 1.-THE Provo bench
settlers who believe they have been
defrauded of their lands will have to
appeal to the courts for redress" Of
course. A little common sense would
have suggested that in the start. And
it would have saved our neighbor from
one exposition of its own folly and i'll
nature.
There is ample time in which the
people who claim the rights of settlers
on the lands in question can contest
the sale. About eighteen months will
elapse we believe. before title will pass
to the purchasers. During that time,
if those claimants have any show of
rights to present, the matter can be
settled in equity.
1t has been urged that the people
who lay claim to some of the lands sold
are poor and are not financially able
to carry their cause to the courts.
We suggest that those philanthrophic
persons who have been posing as
friends of the poor, club together and
put up enough money to commence
suit and obtain the aid of some good
lawyer who is also of charitable dis
position, and test the matter thor
oughly. 1t ought not to be very ex-
pensive and the costs could be COL
lected Of the defendants if the case
has any substantial merits.
There is more political animus in
this disturbance than regard for the
people who have set up claims since
the Commissioners closed negotiations
with the purchasers. 1t was on that
account that The Herald took up the
matter as it did. We do not believe
that the gentlemen elected by the
people of this territory as Commits
sioners to locate University lands are
capable of the conduct attributed to
them. nor guilty of The favoritism in
simulated against them we believe
they made the sales in good faith. for
the interest of the university and, as
they believed, with due regard to
valid claims. If they have done