The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-01

scnooi sections, very valuable on account
OF location, by representing them to be
mineral IN character. The title of the state
To these lands can be made perfect if the
necessary appropriations are made for that
purpose and the state school land COM
mission Is authorized to act in the matter.
information as to dates of sale cannot
be furnished by this Office, because such
dates are fixed by the counties, and not by
the state. Long delays have been made,
without any apparent good reason, after
receiving order of sale and before date of
sale, IN some instances extending over
period of six months. The state school
land commission is authorized to deter
mine what lands shall be sold, but has no
further control of the sales. except to ap-
prove them where is no reason to believe
that the sales have been brought about by
fraud or collision. The county commits
sioners fix the dates, conduct the sales and
ton of the land sold. There is
nothing in the law to prevent
any one from purchasing school lands,
and 1t needs no argument to prove that it
Is not advantageous TO the school fund to
nave the county com missioners tx the
values, conduct the sales, and, perhaps,
become successful bidders for the land.
1t IS but just to say that only a very few
would unfairly take advantage of such op-
portunities; nevertheless, it is an unfair
advantage that should not receive the
sanction OF law. Better results could be
secured by having all preliminary details
leading up to sale arranged by the head
OF the land department of the
state, and the sales conducted by
an agent appointed for that pur-
pose. The state school land COM
mission should be authorized to disap-
prove sales if in their judgment it is for
the best interests OF the school fund to
do so.
The leasing of school lands is dismissed
with a single section in our present laws.
which is strikingly defective in two partic-
ulars: first, it does not authorize any one
to receive and transmit moneys arising
from the leasing of school lands: second,
while il provides that the lands shall be
leased to the highest bidder, it does not
provide the manner of giving notice of
the time and place at which bids will be
received. fhe certified statements, made
as required by the above section of the
law, do not afford sufficient information
TO enable this office to make a record of
leases that would be of any practical util-
ity. The territorial law provides that
school lands may be leased for term of
six years, while the enabling act provides
that" such lands may, under such
regulations as the legislature shall pre-
scribe. be leased for periods of not more
than five years, IN quantities not exceed
ing one section. 10 any one person or COM
pany. 80
In some of the counties lands have been
leased for period Of SIX years, under
authority OF the law of the state. and in
some instances the rent paid has been
placed To the credit of tho county school
fund. The reports show that the rent
paid runs rs low as Pr cents an acre per
annum. In view OF the question that will
arise as to the owners right to compensa-
tion for Improvements placed on school
lands since the enactment of the pres
ent law. it Is not advisable to
lease lands at a mere nominal rent.
A better method would be 10 allow
bids 10 be sent TO the commissioner
of public lands al any time, and make 1t
the duty OF said officer to open said bids
on the hrst Monday of each month. No
lands should be leased for less than sn an
nual rent equal 10 6 per cent OF the APP
praised value, III cases where the land has
been appraised, and unappraised lands
should be leased 10 the highest bidder:
provided, thai IN no case should il be
leased for less than an annual rent equal
to 10 cents per acre. Said officer should
be authorized 10 reject any and all bids
and to cancel any lease for nou-payment
of rent when due. and for thirty DAYS
thereafter. The commissioner Of public
lands should he required TO issue all
leases. keep a record of the same and re-
ceiye all payments of rent.
The section of the present law as TO
payments is an evident attempt to author
ice the state school land commission to
complete the unfinished business of the
legislature. Some of the officers author
lied by said commission 10 receive and
transmit such money have refused 20
give additional bonds for the sale keep
ing aud delivery 10 the state OF such
MONEYS" Ii is quite an easy matter for
the commission TO designate the officers
who shall handle such moneys, prescribe
rules and regulations for their govern
ment and tx the amount of their addi-
ti0nal bonds, but com pIlAnCe with such
action of the commission - optional with
the officers SO named. In view o. this fact
il has been found necessary. as au induce
ment for the officers so named 10 perform
sqch duties. 10 TX tie compensation mucn
above a far remuneration Tor "a ser
vices. VIZ: Two per cent. on al moneys
received by them from the sale AMI ieas-
ing OF school lands. and transmitted 10
the proper state officers. The cost
of handling moneys derived from
the sale and leasing OF schoo!
lands has already amounted 20 nearly
81 90. and under the present system the
cost will be greater IN the future than II
has been IN the past. This expense can
al De saved 10 the state without any great
Inconvenience 70 the people 1t large by re-