The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-29

There Is q row on between State Land
Commissioner Bridges and the board OF
university regents over the leasing of the
old university grounds by the board
Acting under what 1t believed to be the
law, the board of regents recently leased
the grounds to ]. C. Levold for thirty
years. Before doing So the board con-
suited Acting Attorney General vanee,
who gave II as his opinion that the board
had the legal right to turn over the
property to Mr.. Levold.
Land Commissioner Bridges is of the
opinion that the regents are without au-
thority of law in making such a disposal
OF public land; he says that under the
law his Office. and his office only. can set
tie such matters. Yesterday Commission
er Bridges addressed a letter. to Clark
Davis, registrar of the board of regents,
and II he stands by the contents OF IL
there Is going to be more trouble among
the happy family of Washington. Here
is what Mr. Bridges wrote:
Dear Sir: l learn by reports in the
newspapers and through communica-
tion with President Graves that the
board or regents of the University of
washington have or are about to enter
INTO lease with one j. C. Levold for
the term OF thirty years, for a consid-
Grafton that amounts to about sleO COO
Tor the property formerly occupied by
the University of Washington in the
city OF Seattle. consisting OF about ten
IF my memory serves me right the
deeds to this property are in the name
OF the state Of Washington. 1 desire
Iurtner 10 call your attention to the
fact that the law requires the regents
TO forward all records pertaining to real
property In their possession to the COM
missioner OF public lands. In my opin-
ion the board of regents has no juris-
dfctfon under the law to lease property
that has been conveyed to the state.
irrespective OF the object Of the con-
veyance. In order to have this matter
go through the proper channels you
VIII please take notice, as registrar of
the board of regents, that within ten
days from receipt of this notice. unless
copies or all deeds OF conveyance and
other documents necessary to complete
the records are received at this office.
Will take such steps as may be neces-
sary to secure copies of all Instruments
relating to the title Of said ten acres
go as to enable this department to OFFER
TOT lease at public auction said prop
erty to the highest and best bidder at
the office of the county auditor of King
county Should the board of regents
deem It necessary. within the next ten
Gays, 10 have conference with this
department relative to this subject
matter. II you will kindly inform me
VIII be pleased to meet with them in
Seattle. This question is Of sufficient
Importance, in my opinion, to warrant
a speedy determination of jurisdfc-
tional questions.
n,waluns al early reply, am, very
ROBERT BRIDGES,
Commissioner"
Judge Winsor one of the regents. when
told the substance of Mr. Bridges letter
last night said: There are some fairly we'll
informed lawyers on the board OF regents.
VINO In my judgment are as well yersed In
matters to which Mr.. Bridges refers as IL
MIR. Bridges himself. Furthermore Mr.
vance Is the legal adviser OF the state
onciais. and before the regents disposed OF
the old university grounds they sought and
secured an opinion from Mr. Vance. He
held with the regents; namely, that il was
within their power to lease the land We
are satisfied that we have acted within the
law, and In the interests OF the state of
washington, and IL Mr.. Bridges thinks we
nave not the courts are open TO him to test
the question that seems of such great mo-
ment to him l am sure the men who are
back OF Mr.. Levold are perfectly willing
that the validity of the lease shall be de-
termined by the courts. and certainly the
regents have nothing to- fear"
While Attorney General Vance advised
the board OF Its legal rights TO lease the
grounds, special dispatch to the POST
1nteligencer from its Olympia CORRESPOND
ent last night stated that Mr.. Vance had
eince sent TO the regents for the papers
involved in the lease. giving as his reason
for 50 doing that he understood there were
some irregularities connected with the mat
ter.