The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-12
THE STATE LANDS.
Radical Changes in Handling
Them Recommended.
AsolIr,on or LOCAL soARDs.


Iasfve bodies The findings are as fol-
lows:
.srirst-Thas the Iocai boards Of tide
land appraisers which are now In exfs-
sence in some eighteen counties contain
ing tide lands have been source OF IN
sssuaI and. I'm our Judgment. unnecessary
expense and that as result OF having
separate board for the appraisement OF
tide lands In each county containing the
Same we have found q great diversity OF
xysfenns employed IN the service and us
rarity in values At which the land mas
feen appraised. These boards have been.
urssisr the law, each a separate indepen-
dent organization over which neither the
state board nor the commissioner OF pub
lie lands has had any control or jurfsdis-
sian. They have employed clerks and sur
veyofs for thetss own particular WORK.
and we are Of the unanimous opinion
that The expense of this work hss been
much greater 20 this state than had u al
been performed under some one author
fzei head; and we are of the UNANIMOUS
opinion that these boards should forth
With ne abolished. saving and excepting
only from the immediate operation OF
q Law ahofsshing the same the boards
In King Pierce ara Chehaiis counties, an
exception being made In these cases Tor
the reason that their work is now nearly
nj n stage OF completion and TO abolish
them before they shall have fully COM
piefed their duties would perhaps be 10
undo great deal that has been done and
entail unnecessary expense for resurveys,
plating, etc, and we therefore recon-
mend IN these cases that they should be
allowed to complete their work In their
respective counties, provided the same
shall be done on or before July ]. 1885.
s-Second-The result of our investigation
leads US TO believe that the seven land
cruisers now provided for by Law should
be forthwith abolished. Under che pres
ent system these cruisers are paid by the
acre for their selection OF land This we
believe 10 be nm unwise system. We have
further found from an investigation OF
the accounts Of these cruisers that they
have cost the state from March IA. 1885.
10 March 8. 1876, :nciusiye. the sum OF S22.-
1sf.so. This we believe TO be far ia excess
OF the value Of the services actually per-
formed. and We recommend that ~ lieu
OF these seven cruisers the law should
provide for the appointment by the gov
ernor of two cruisers of lands. who should
he paid salary sufYicien. To employ good.
competent. Trustworthy men. and We
would suggest as such compensation the
sum OF 81 30 year each. and their ac-
fual expenses necessarily incurred In the
discharge OF their duties. This we believe
wili effect a substantial saving In expense
and result I'm more efficient service than
under the present system. These cruisers
should also be subject to removal by the
governor.
ssThird-We are of the opinion that II
would be In the line of economy and the
results would be better, to do away with
the appraisers OF school lands which are
now provided for by law. The work OF
these appraisers could he done I'm many
Instances by members OF the land com
mission. although I'm special cases 1t
might be necessary 10 have appraisers APP
pointed. and with that necessity In view
we would recommend that the board
should have the discretionary power OF
appointing an appraiser for any particular
work. should occasion require.
.'Fourth--We have also arrived at the
conclusion that the assistant attorneys
general In the various land districts
should be abolished and that the work
now performed by them should devoive
upon one attorney. who should be en-
ployed by or under the control of the
state board and have a general super
vision and charge OF the lega. business
connected Herewith: and In this con-
nection we would recommend that the
governor should he empowered to ap-
point such an attorney as the advisor OF
the state board upon It's recommendation
We are led TO this conclusion from the
important legal questions arising and
much work In this line 10 he done, which
requires the advice and skill OF COM
potent attorney
''Fifth-So far as the tribunal or board
which should have charge and control Of
The valuable landed interests OF the state
we believe that the states interests can
be best suhserved by the creation OF a
state land board. 10 he composed of the
commissioner OF public lands. who should
be a member and the chairman thereof.
and two other members. to be appointed
by the governor. and that these three
commissioners should constitute such
hoard and he charged with the many re-
sponsihilities pertaining 10 the selection.
care, management, sale and leasing Of
the various state lands. We believe that
there IL no more important work con-
fronting the citizens of this state than
the proper and conservative handling OF
its public lands, There are still faaeN
acres OF lands 10 be selected under the
various land grants of the Federal gov
ernment 30 this state. There are tnnunl-
cradle contests between the state and
private parties 10 be tried In the land
offsces and courts There are stilt large
quantities of tide lands 10 be appraised.
and nearly all OF this class of lands are
yet to he sold. bat small fraction
thereof having been disposed, Of The
hsrhor areas have IN no Instances as yet
feen leased. and this work should he so
done az 20 derive the greatest revenue
and subserve the public good. In pur-
suaace of the constitutional provisions
governing those harhor areas there are
many intricate and complicated CUES
;ions arising between applicants for the
purchase ~ tide lands which must I've
adjusted between the parties and the
state. and IN all these important matters
the tribunal charged with the varied
duties Of serving the state aud sitting as
Judges serving the state In the selection.
care. sale and lease OF its lands. sitting
as Judges over the various contests and
proceedings which In their nature a-s
judicial. such q hoard as we suggest
should he composed OF men OF both good
business ability and Judgment and oil
judicial discretion. We are thoroughiy OF
the opinion that ~ extensive and import
ant is the work In connection with the
landed interests nf the state that ths
states interests can be best suhseryesi
by such hoard as We have suggested
These interests we believe are far toe
important To he handled ty any one man
and In the Nevy nature Of things IL such
a policy were adopted much % the more
important work wcssia az a necessity have
~ be done by sUharsstnstss and eierks
who would rot have Tire responsibility ol
tssis principal. Furthermore the cotfssi
sutsen ttseff requires that certain boards
must exist. Under former laws thess
boards were created by making e.he,
state officers ex~offseio members thereof
eas the result VAS to impose upon such
officers extra Duties " hsch they ought moi
60 Ne charged with ard from the very
nature 81 their official positions they eouiS
net devote sA& necessary time Rnd atsfn
tsoa 10 perform without nexleetsng tn.
duties 81 their offices. ard We efnpha;tcaii,
ts.iseVe that che Importance 90 the state:
interests In the matter Of It's public lands