Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-08-26
LAND DEPARTMENT.
Board: Robert Bridges, Commission
err; Will ID. jenkins, Secretary of
State; y. j. Browne, Superintend.
ent Public Instruction; Ex.Onicio
Members, Thomas Mahoney. Sec
Rotary; John Cryderman, State
Engineer; Lee Mel er, Chief Clerk.

The Department OF Public Lands, one
OF the most important in the State of
Washington. is presided over by Robert
Bridges OF Seattle. with the official title
OF Commissioner OF Public Lands. The
record OF his administration since he took
charge OF one OF the most difficult and
arduous Offices within the disposal of the
people OF the state. is one which gives
new hope concerning the future. His
Improvement OF the condition of the cur
rent and permanent school funds reflects
degree OF wisdom and, we may say,
Craftsmanship that perhaps Mr.. Bridges
most sanguine friends did not give him
credit for. and his policy with regard to
tide lands and the public domain generally
Is far-reaching. business-like and eminent
ly practical.
In 1891 the Harbor Line Commission sue
ceeded the old Board Of Equalization and
Appraisement. and in 1893 the former was
legislated out of the misery" Of a fat
per diem TO the more lucrative status Of
salaries to the Republican ring music Of
S300 a year each. The record Of this
boards administration and that Of the
commission that succeeded II constitutes
the worst piece of official rascality in
all the wide range Of corrupt Republican
ring politics. and permanently lost to the
state millions OF dollars. 1t is only nee
essary TO turn to the files of nearly any
OF the Republican newspapers printed at
ind ample and astonishing proof Of these
statements We shall have occasion to
quote to some extent from at least one OF
these papers.
Meanwhile Il may be noted that the old
Harbor Line Commission, which was ap-
pointed by Governor Ferry, got down to
work In March. 1891, beginning at Tacoma.
Ex-Governor Eugene Semple was the
Democratic member Of that board. The
other four were Republicans. They were
all appointed TO hold office until 1888 which
was the Legislative limit Of the life Of
the Commission. but as will be seen. It
was succeeded by another.
OF the old hoard Colonel William F.
Prosser was chairman. The other menu
hers were Eugene Semple. Frank III. Rich
ards and H. G.. Gurnsey. Capt. Symonds
OF the United States corps of engineers
was associated with the board. Their i'm
mediate work was to establish the harbor
lines.
II was noted IN Tho Tacoma News OF
March T. 1901, as follows: THE Harbor
Line Commission II one OF the most i'm
por,nnt OF the many commissions which
now laws have created since Washington
became a state. In the commissioners
hands has been placed the entire work OF
establishing harbor line in all the Sound
towns as well as expendlng three-fourths
o. the money derived from the sale Of
tide lands in a comprehensive scheme for
the Improvement OF the harbors.'
Roasted by the Ledger
Thus was the work begun under Re-
publican rule Let now look at the
results on February 10. 1894. The Tacoma
ledger Republican. In speaking Of the
McGraw commission, which succeeded
that appointed nv Governor Ferry. with
nm elective Land Commissioner said:
Governor McGraw's Land Commission
,s fraud and an imposition. 1t is SPEND
ing It's time IN Seattle. perfecting and car
ryIng out schemes for the Seattle ring.