The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-04
SCHOOL LAND REPORT
Secretary FiIson Suggests a
Change of System
RECEIPTS ARE GRATIFYING
While Increased Expenses
are Only Those Natural.
RECEIPTS ARE GRATIFYING

Guthrie. o. T, Jan. 3.-(Special.)- 1.-The
secretary of the school land board, {. h
Filson. has submitted to the governor re-
mort covering the operations Of the school
land department from June 1, 1897, when
the present administration took charge
up to November 30, 1898. 1t is succinct
statement of the operations of this great
and important department Of the govern
ment, every feature of which is full Of in
teresting information. Of especial interest
is the secretary's plan Of settling the vexed
question of the preference right of the
school land lessee-a plan which II it can
be made effective by legislation, would
seem to insure to the lessee almost, if not
quite, the protection of homestead right,
and vet protect the interests Of the terri
tory and the school fund.
RENEWAL OF LEASES.
Concerning the renewal Of leases the sec
rotary says:
This is the most perplexing and intri-
cate question with which the office as to
deal and one witch deeply affects the in
terests Of the lessees Of school lands. 1t is
my observation that the element of COM
petitive bids has little effect in fixing the
general rental value of lands offered for
lease. The lessees Of the land are at each
public leasing, filed with apprehension lest
they will not be able TO compete success
fully with persons, whether spectators or
bona fde settlers, possessing greater finan-
cial resources -than themselves and that
they viii, as a consequence, lose the prod
uct Of their small investment and Of their
arduous labors in improving the lands
which viii pass into the control OF per-
sons having no other right to thenr~than
their ability to offer a larger rental than
the original occupants who have brought
them into a condition which will make
them productive, but from which they
have not, on account Of the shortness Of
the time which tey have occupied them,
been repaid for their investment and labor.
This apprehension generally results in the
lessees making no Improvements the last
year Of his lease and often in the neglect
of crops or trees as the time draws near
for renewal At the public leasing Of 1897
there were thirty-two competitive bids on
leased lands in few Of which the price
offered per annum for each quarter sec
ton was so greatly in excess of the ap-
praised retail value Of the land that the
conclusion could be drawn therefrom that
there was a malicious intent to dispos-
sess the lessee of his holdings In one
case there was bitter contest TO decide
which OF the several claimants should be
awarded the right to lease quarter sec
ton al two hundred and fifty dollars per
annum. In this controversy there was en-
Tdoyed the most eminent legal talent Of
the territory and the hearing occupied the
attention of the board several days.
EVIL OF COMPETITIVE BIDS.
From my personal experience I am
constrained to say that while the theory
OF competitive leasing the lands appears
10 be good, the practical results show
that it is a detriment rather than of any
practical benefit in fixing rental values.
It is but just that lessees who are not
In arrears for rental and who have other
wise compiled with all the conditions OF
their lease. be permitted TO renew the
same without competition. It secures to
them the full benefits of all improvements
they may make. 1t guarantees to them
a home as long as they comply with the
terms of their lease and by encourag ing
permanent improvements will. lin the fu-
ture. greatly enhance the value Of school
lands all over the territory.
"I earnestly recommend that legislation
be enacted providing for an appraisement
under the direction of the school land
office, for all lands at the expiration of
each lease and that the lessee be allowed