The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1897-02-13

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY is. 1897



A very neat report OF the board
for leasing school land has just been
completed by THE LEADER Printing
Co.. and will be forwarded to the leg
islative assembly today. The follow
ing suggestions among others are made
by MIR William Blincoe. the secretary
OF the board, in making his report
There is an imperative need for a
Just aud equitable law regulating the
leasing and ths management Of the
school lands of the terrltery is sim
cerely 10 be hoped that in Is prepara-
tion all local, individual ana political
interests may be submerged and that
Ihe general welfare Of the whole peo-
pie may be paramount to the end that
a fund sacred 10 the education OF the
The Ooys and girls Of OK ahoma may
be maintained and preserved.
The experience OF states, much OF II
very costly has clearly de nonstrated
the bdvisability Of the territory main
tainiLg direct control over its school
lands and school funds. IL is also
matter of common experience in the
admins tration Of large trusts that 1t
Is neces RTy that the responsibility for
any abuses may be easily fixed upon
some one person and that relief be had
from any erroneous or malicious acts
by way OF appeal 10 some higher
source.
These general principles, connected
with the necessity for immediate
action, lead me 10 recommend the
creation Of this Office OF Commissioners
of Public Lands, " no shall have the
immediate charge OF the leasing aud
whose acts stall De subject to review
under proper limitations and condi-
tions by srpefiur board TO be consti-
tutad either Of commissioners TO be
appointed or OF fiicers Of the terri.
tory who shall aut eX-ofiicio. Care,
however, should be takeu TO prevent
designing persons, under the guise Of
appeals from covering up and inyolv-
ing valuable tracts OF land, and
prompt action should always be re
quired In other words, the conduct
OF the business should approach, A.
nearly as possible, the dispatch and
efficiency Of large business house
The matter OF the renewal OF leases
Is one which will require most careful
consideration and is OF the very gist of
the whole subject, no other feature
approaching " IN Importance On this
subject the rules OF the board under
which the leases OF the territory were
renewed ia 1896 present very
equitable system. would therefore
recommend that 81 lands upon which
leases are a5outto expire be appraised
and that a detailed staten, ut OF IA,
improvements, together with the value
OF each item. be taken, that oppor-
tunity be given all persons aggrieved
10 make complaint, aud an adjustment
made by re appraisement, or other
wise, and that bids at not ess than
the appraised value be called for on all
lands and award made in each case TO
the highest bidder, with the privilege
on the part Of the tenant TO take the
land at the highest rental offered by
any responsible bidder, or II he so elect,
TO receive from the applicant the an
praised value OF the Improvements and
give possession, or again, TO remove
his Improvements within reasonable
time and give possession.
In sll cases where noapplieatiou has
been made under the above rules, sub
NIT the lands for bids at not less than
two-thirds Of the appraised value, and
thereafter make leases 70 any respon-
sible applicant At not less than two
thirds the appraised value
Below is shown q table Of receipts
and expenditures OF moneys derived
from leasing school lands