The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-05

ton of assistant appraisers, which is
provided for in section SO.
In the former instance, the consid-
Grafton Of the section was laid over TO
today upon the suggestion of Mr.. Tay-
lor to admit of mature consideration OF
that particular phase Of the bill. The
section in question is that point of the
land bill upon which the legislature
has been SO frequently petitioned by
settlers on school land. Mr.. Monson's
substitute represents the unanimous
idea of the Democratic members con-
corning the preference right which
they believe should be granted such
settlers. 1t reads:
Sec. 19.-Actual and bona fide settlers
or occupants who have improved state
or school lands and were, on January
l, 1894, actual settlers or occupants
thereon, shall have the preference
right TO purchase the land wherein
such settlement has been made, or OF
which such occupancy was had, tor a
sum not less than the appraised VAL
uation thereof. In making such ap-
praiSement the valuation of improve
ments thereon shall not be taken into
consideration Improvements, Wltnln
the meaning Of this section, shall be
held to mean anything permanent IN
character. the result of labor upon or
in connection with the land, which has
enhanced the value of the same beyond
what said land would be worth had 1t
been permitted to remain in its orig
inal state Application to make such
purchase by said claimant must be
made within six months from the ming
Of the plats in the county treasurer
Office Occupants claiming preference
rights to purchase lands under this
section shall, at their own expense,
furnish the board with the plats OF
their claims at the time of making
such application. Such lands as are
suitable for reservoir sites shall be re-
tanned by the state. The right 40 use
said lands for reservoir purposes snail
be granted to the owner of LANDS 10
be benefited by the construction OF
such reservoir. preference being. given
to such corporations or associations
formed for irrigation purposes or IN
dividuals as will enable the said reser-
voir sites to be utilized by the greatest
number of actual settlers, under sucn
rules and regulations as the board may
prescribe The right to use such res
ervoir sites shall be such as may be
prescribed by law.
THE PER DIEM PROPOSITION.
Fixing the assistant appraisers per
diem created the only debate which oc-
CURED on the bill.
The committee recommendation Ia
yored leaving it discretionary with the
land commission to appoint such as
sistant appraisers as are necessary TO
select and locate state lands, whose
compensation shall be fixed by the
board not to exceed 81 per day and
mileage.
Mr.. NIonson moved to amend by max
ing the maximum per diem So.
Mr. Cushing chairman of the COM
mittee, was opposed to departing from
the bill as reported from the commit
tee. In securing appraisers, it was de-
sirable that the board should not be
compelled to engage farm hands to do
work SO important. 1t had been the
idea of the committee to place it with
in the power of the board to secure
the farmer himself and not the farm
hand by allowing sufficient per diem TO
pay him for his time.
Mr.. Morrison moved to amend the
amendment by making the per diem
81. The motion was not seconded.
Messrs. Gibson, Stevens, Morrison
and other supported the IS amendment
when Mr.. Thompson, of Sanpete, who
had apparently misunderstood Mr.
Cushing, proceeded to take him to task
for the reference to farm hands. He
thought farm hands were just as capa-
bic of judging the value of land as the
farmer and certainly more capable than
railroad men. The last remark was
a shot at Mr. Gushing, who replied very
sharply that if all the sheep men (mean-
ing Mr.. thompson and all the owners
of farms considered themselves and
were no more capable than the man
who will work on a farm for SIS a
month he was not surprised so many
failed to pay their interest and il such
were the fact it was all the more neces-
Sary the per diem should be sufficiently
large to insure getting capable men.
He had not intended to belittle the
farm hand but thought he was instead
paying the farmer compliment.
Mr.. Maughn moved to amend the
amendment by striking out mot
to exceed" and fix the pay definitely at
So. The chair held that the two pro-
posals could not be incorporated in one
amendment. but must be voted on sep
arately. Mr.. Maughn accordingly
withdrew his motion till the first could
| be passed upon.
Mr.. Nebeker, of Rich, supported the
bill as it stood. He thought the time
the appraising might be done would in
/ many cases come at a time when farm
ers or those whom the board might
! wish to engage as assistants. would be
! engaged in their most important work
They could not afford to serve there
fore for less than 81 day, and If the
I pay were made less, the most desira-
BILE men could not be secured. Besides
the various appraisers appointed would
only act a few days at a time, hence
81 was little enough.
! Mr.. Bolitho opposed the reduction and
/ several other gentlemen spoke to the
! question. Upon division. Mr. Monson's
amendment was adopted and later Mr..
! Maughn's motion to strike out was
! lost, leaving the board free to engage
appraisers at a per diem not to exceed
! SO per day.
! A motion by Mr.. Morrison to rise and
report was lost when Mr.. Mansfield
moved to strike out the provision al
/ lowing the appraisers mileage. The
motion met with very little sympathy
! and was lost. Mr.. CritchIow's motion.
/ which followed. that the committee rise
! and report progress, was carried and
/ the house adopted the report of the
committee OF the whole.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The speaker signed senate bills Nos.
! 70 and IS.
s. 3. No. SO was made a special order
| for Friday.
! A communication from the governor
notified the house OF his approval of
senate bills Nos. 5, 16, 81. 65 "a and rs,
relating respectively to the law of libel.
| defining the duties of county attorneys.
removing officers other than bv i'm
! parchment, defining the duties of the
governor and creating the board Of ex-
aminers.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
/ On first rea dine, +beSa lille 1,,.,.o 49,.