The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-04
THERE is TROUBLE
IN THE TREASURER INVESTIGAT-
ING COMMITTEE

Substitute for Doyie's School Land
Bill - House Favors Keeping Down
County Seat Fights-Some Greer County
History.
Guthrie. o. T, March S-(Spec.al)-
There is division IN me committee ap-
pointed by the house 10 examine the books
Of the territorial treasurer This morning
| the committee made a report that Il had
employed two experts at IS day to do the
| work and a clerk at 50 day. The ex-
perts selected are one Buckles, Of e. Reno,
and Dake. of Enid, but have have been in
the city during the present Legislature, as
( experts, and a man named Madison, OF
| Woods county, as clerk.
| Mr.. Wilson. as chairman OF the commit
| tee. said ne objected to the number of cx-
perts AID by his own authority hired Mr.
| Buckles 10 DO the work To this Mr. ST
Clair and Mr.. Graves rebelled. and at the
noon hour they freely expressed themselves
| that II Mr.. Wilson desired TO have the con-
| troll of the matter entirely they would re-
! sign from the committee.
Mr.. Christian said he was not present at
the meeting of the committee ard was not
responsible for the employment of the
| clerk.
Mr.. Rose said ne understood the commit
| tee was going 10 DO its own work. Had
| he been out Of the committee he had intend
/ ed to go over the books himself
/ Mr.. st. Clair wanted the house 10 take
| the matter OF selection OF experts in it's
| own hands.
There are indications in the house that
| the Democrats have an agreed concerted
action as 10 the method OF treating Popu-
list measures. The matters is not patent
on the surface, but simply turks around
suspiclous,y. or az least some OF the Popu-
| list members think so. This may be a
mistake. however, and such an appearance
of conditions may be but accidental.
The council this morning Immediately
went into committee OF the whole for con-
sideration OF the substitute to Doyle
school land bill and the entire morning
hours was consumed in discussion. The sub
st;tute was finally adopted and was sent to
| the house for concurrence.
! The house this morning spent its time on
| three measures.
Mr.. Mays bill to establish a school OF
mining at Newkirk. was reconsidered and
1
| The house reconsidered its rescending
| from its amendment TO the gold contract
| bill, the amendment being to allow the
railroad corporations to make gold con-
tracts. The reconsideration prevents rail-
| roads as well as others.
| Woodnansee's resolution that this legis-
] lature take no acton in changing county
seats ror county lines. was favorably re-
ported by Mr.. Ferguson, and was adopted
! by the house. This Goes away with any
/ fight over county lines and county seats.
Mr.. May introduced house bill No. 2s6,
! creating the Office of territorial auditor.
| WANTS A NEW COUNTY.
| Rev. W. E. Banks is over from Yedell
in the interests of a new county to be CALI
ed South Greer Althus to be the county
seat. This would create a county with a
population of less than ZOO people and an
assessed valuation below $4,000. Mr.. Banks
is of a western type of civilization. COM
bining the ministry, farming and county
seat booming. besides having published a
booklet of Oklahoma poems. His request
! throws some interesting light on this strip
of land, so recently acquired from Texas.
| Texas gave 5i0-acre land certificates 10
her confederates who had lost leg. besides
| certificates in other amounts for other in
| juries. Many were placed, the Texans call
| it "hoated,' in Greer county, despite its I'M
settled condition of tide.
| In 1877 the state passed a statute cancell-
| ing all certificates fioated in Greer county.
| All but thirty obeyed on this provision.
| three of this thirty having already received
patents. They still make their claims, but
| are certain of being dispossessed some day
| by court procedure. Later came a statute
| devotine one-half of this county 10 the
school fund. the balance 10 be sold for meet
| ing state indebtedness. About 1857. Com
| missioner Hall ordered the school fund land
| sold. President Cleveland. while not order
| ing settlers to vacate, protested against
| this sale, and advised none to purchase
until title as between the state and the
| United States had been adjusted. Follow
\ ing the Quite recent settlement OF title
| came the free homes measure by congress.
| Under this squatters received l6oacre home
steads, an additional 1e0 acres being pur-
] chased az 81 per acre in case IL had been
| claimed when jurisdiction passed from
Texas Contrary 10 general public BELIEF.
/ the state OF Texas has never received any
money arising from the sale Of Greer coun
| ~ lands.
AS in the Cherokee strip. sections u are
| reserved for colleges, sections 10 anu % 10Y
| common schools and sections 80 FOR pubic
| buildings When said lands are occupied.
others are taken in lieu thereof. The coun-
| ty seat of Mangum has been made land
office point. its opening only awaiting the
| result OF competition between applicants
for office. Among Oklahoma Democrats
there is a general concession that these
places 20 10 Greer county men. This favor
-, = -
tive party work anonw their new ssso-