The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-01-19
TERRITORIAL NEWS.
Late Happenings of More Than
Ordinary Interest
SCHOOL LAND LESSEES COyyENIlO,
Meet for the Rnrpose of Exchanging Views
and ia Ges the Legislature to Pass
Mor- Favorable Laws Other
Late News of Interest
SCHOOL LAND LEssKEs
Convention ~ Oklahoma ,ity Represented
5000 Lsssees of Publ e Iaud.

Convention ~ Oklahoma tity Represented
5000 Lsssees OF Publ Laud.
Delegates representing the several
thousand school land lessees OF the ter
ritory met in convention at Oklahoma
City las: Thursday for the purpose of
exchanging views and to agree, IL pos
sible, upon the needs OF the lessees in
the way OF legislation. The leasing
and the regulation Of the vast acres of
school lands in manner that is Just
and fair to the lessee aud equally fair
and just TO the interests of the school
fund, is admittedly the most serious
problem confront ling the legislature.
On the one hand are some thing like
5000 lessees OF school lands who are
entitled TO the protection of the law;
on the other hand are the 100, 900 school
children land their tribe is increasingly,
whose education is largely based upon
the money derived from the school
lands. The school land lessees are
fairly well organized ana represent a
solid political force, and the only reas-
on that their efforts TO secure legisla-
ton failed in the past has been IA lack
of uniformity IN ideas. The convention
developed that there is a decided dis
position among the lessees to demand
nothing but what Is fair and just, but
there was also diversity OF opinion as
to what constitutes fair and just"
measure. The convention was unani-
mously and heartily in accord with
School Land Secretary Filson's recon-
mendation that competitive bidding be
abolished, but there was some opposi-
ton 10 the recommendation that "a new
appraisement be made at the expiration
of the lease. President Hennessey in
an address urged a greater unanimity
of sentiment among the lessees, and
cited the failure to secure legislation
two years ago because of the iuharmony
of ideas as TO what was wanted. Rep
resentative j. w. Scott of Clifton,
himself lessee, and representing
more school land than any other MEM
ber of the legislature, was present and
briefly addressed the convention,
pledgiog his hearty support to any
measure that would be fair in its tel ms.
He announced that in anticipation of
school land legislation lie had already
prepared a bill the chief features of
which were ;he abrogation of compet-
tive bidding; continuing leases with
out re-apprai>ement, and providing for
d school board on the present lines
Senator Sidney Clarke followed Mr..
Scott and urged the necessity of intro
ducing a bill looking toward school
land legislation at an early stage of
"a 10
eral disposition to put the school funds
in the hands of a bonded officer and &c
create responsible board of school
land comm issioners, and in this con-
nection he severely criticized what he
termed the extravagant disposition of
the present board in handling the
school funds. The following resolu-
tions were adopted by the convention:
1--WE, the lessees of the school lands
of Oklahoma territory, demand of the
legislature that they enact such laws
as will give the lessee preference
right in releasing without compe-
tition.
"We demand that breaiing, clear
ing, fencing, buildings, wells, pords,
shade trees, fruit trees, vines or any
other kind of improvements necessary
10 work and get benefit out of land be
appraised at full value.
I'VE demand that Is per cent of the
lease money now derived from the
leasing of indemnity lands te returned
to the various school districts in said
land, to help maintain public schools,
it being impossible for them TO keep
school longer than three mon tbs under
the present system"