The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-02
MANY AMENDMENTS MADE
SALARIES OF COMMISSIONERS
REDUCED TO 81, 900 A YEAR.
Thomson Wanted Provision Made for
Populists, But Failed-The Meas
ure Finally Passed by Vote of 3S
to OCommittee Reports-The
Third House Acts.

- 100000 AAS VI 1AOHl lllC
moment the first section was read until
the final vote was taken, but it slipped
through the batteries without suffering
serious alterations. The compensa-
ton of the land commissioners was re-
duced from $1,000 to $1,000 per annum,
and their terms from four to two
years. The maximum limit of grazing
leases was reduced from $4,000 to $4,000
acres. These were the most important
amendments adopted. Kenner made an
unsuccessful effort TO reduce the num-
Der of commissioners from seven to
i've, and various other propositions of
more or less Importance were rejected.
The house accomplished the eXtraor-
binary feat of being ready for business
so early as o'clock a. M, and upon
being called to order Immediately took
a recess to D. m, in order that the
members might attend the celebration
of President Woodruff's birthday.
PUBLIC LANDS BILL.
Upon reassembling the public lands
bill was taken up as the special order.
Sloan, chairman of the public lands
committee, explained the changes
made in the present law. The MEM
bership of the board had been in
| creased from five to seven, two of
whom were the governor and secre-.
| tary of state, and not more than four
| of these seven should belong to the
same political party. The exchange
of state bonds for other bonds was pro-
vided for. In cases of contest it was
provided that one member of the board
should visit the county in which the
contest arose and take testimony. The
term of grazing leases was extended
from five to twelve years. The time
| for the filing of preference rights to
school lands was extended. People
! living in the settlements who had been
using certain grazing tracts for years
were given preference to leases on
those tracts.
AS soon as the first section had been
read Kenner opened an attack on the
| bill with an amendment reducing the
membership of the commission to five,
with not more than three of the same
political party.
Thomson wanted the number be-
! longing to the same party reduced to
two, which would leave one place to
be filed by Populist, but subsequent
ly withdrew the amendment.
Sloan gave reasons why the member
ship of the board was increased to-
seven AS at present constituted there
were but two members who could leave
the city to look after the selection of
lands, appraisement and contests. The
increase was necessary, in order TO
facilitate the sale of these lands. 1t
was important that this work be done
quickly.
Parry, a member of the lands COM
mittee. stated that it was upon the
suggestion of the present board that
this increase had been made Unless /
the disposal of the state lands could {
be facilitated the state would be de-
prived of great revenues.
h.. hot
inent member of the board had told [
him he supposed the reason for in /
crease the membership was ito pro-
vide places for some hungry Demo- 1
Gratis"
Sloan declared that such an intima-
ton was an insult to the committee
and to the whole Legislature. He de-
manded the name of that member of I
the board, but this information was not
forthcoming.
KENNER IS SUSPICIOUS.
Kenner thought the proposition to
increase the membership had de-
cidedly partisan flavor. He believed
two or three men could do all the work
of this board. We are being watched"
said he. Our audiences here are not
large but our acts are being scrutin-
lied by very large audience; and this
creation of offices is going to receive
some criticism He was decidedly OPP
posed to any partisan legislation, and
was afraid there would not be enough
work for even a board of five men,
bers.
Cook of Box Elder believed the in
crease was in the interest of economy.
TO REDUCE SALARIES.
The amendment was rejected and
Kenner Immediately offered another,
reducing the salary from $1,000 to
1000.
Sloan did not believe that capable
men would accept the appointment at
lower salary than 81, 200 1t was i'm
portant that the commissioners be eff
fcient, in order to promote the sale of
lands, and this would reduce the taxes
of the people.
Kenner was willing to guarantee that
there would not be more than three
months work for any member, even if
there were but five commissioners. A
thousand dollars would be very good
pay for the amount of labor to be per-
formed In fact, he thought $500 would
be sufficient
Duffin believed $1,000 would be
enough. 1.-The people of Utah are drift
ing away from their well-known prin-
ciples of economy" he declared, land
a cry is going up that the old condi-
lions. in this respect, be reinaugur- !
ated."
Robinson thought the time of the ]
would be fully occu-
pied With "a assistants the present
board was unable to keep up with its ]
work. He favored the increase in the
and appropriate compen-
sation for the commission
The amendment was further sup {
ported by Bennion, Lennon and Price.
and opposed by Romney and Thoreson.
The amendment was adopted by a
vote of 81 to Is. and the bond required
Of the commissioners was reduced from
S25, 900 to $4,000. !
Gibson wanted the actual and trav- /
eling expenses" provision stricken out. g
The members would net put in more {
than six hours a day, and would be
salaries at something else. His
was rejected. J
THE ASSISTANTS. =
Gibson wanted the compensation of
Ill assistants appointed under the act c
'educed from 81 to SO per day.
Sloan explained that it was often
that these assistants be sur I
reyors, who would not serve for So per \
lay. The amendment was rejected. \
Murdock's amendment reducing the L
ERIN of office of the commissioners Il
rom four to two years was adopted,
I being represented that it might be- 3
.ome desirable TO reduce the number l
# members of the board before the ex- s
,iration of four years. il
On Mangan'S- motion one clause of c
he section relating to the cOmpenSa- S