The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-03-21
lieu LAND PIRATES.
GOV. CHAMBERLAIN MAKES
ANOTHER MOVE IN DEFENSE
OF STATE LANDS.

Won't Make More SELECTIONS NOW
Referendum and Fair Appro-
priation--Petitions Sent
Out-Editors Sue Each
Other---Oregon
News.
Salem, March 16.-The lieu
land business has come to an alb
rupt end. Governor Chamberlain
has refused to make any more selec-
tions of lieu lands on mineral base,
even for the purpose of setting up
selections heretofore made, but
which have fallen down. In an
swer to every application that has
been made the governor has de-
clared that he will not make any
more selections until it has been
finally determined what amount of
those already made will fall. If
the quantity is large he will contin-
ue hls refusal to proceed. If the
amount is small, be may permit Sc
lections in all cases where the pur-
chasers furnish the bass and pay
the state the difference between the
present value of the base and the
amount they have already paid for
lieu land. His determination is
that the credit of the state shall no
longer be hawked about by lieu
land operators for their own gain.
AS a consequence of Governor
Clam mberlain's taking this firm
position, the lieu land operators
and purchasers are in sore straits
and are fearful of the outcome.
Governor Chamberlain's veto of
the bill in which clause had been
inserted in the interest of the lieu
land ring, together with the stand
he has now taken, is a hard blow
for those who have bsen making
money by ceiling invalid base.
When both houses had passed a
bill which made it the duty of the
governor to ''set up" all fallen lieu
land selections, the operators and
all others interested thought the
way was clear for the perfecting ol
the bad titles. But the governor
discovered the stinger which had
been hidden in the bill and in spite
of the protests of those most inter.
ested, he vetoed it.
Albany, March IA determin-
ed attempt is to be made to defeat
the appropriation of $500, 900 made
by the Oregon legislature for the
Lewis and Clark Fair.
The first move in the caTpaign
was made this morning in this city
when the Referendum League was
organized.
The referendum is to be used az
the main weapon of the people who
are desirous of knocking out the
Lewis and Clark appropriation.
The referendum league was or
ganized in this city this forenoon
with Hon. J. J. Whitney as presi-
dent and Hon. T. ]. Sites as secre.
tary and treasurer.
It was ordered that a petition be
circulated throughout Oregon for
signatures asking for the reference
of the Lewis and Clark Fair bill to
the people under the referendum
act. Another meeting will be held
Saturday.
The movement to invoke the ref
erendum against the Lewis and
Clark Fair appropriation is the di-
rect outgrowth of the refusal of the
last legislature to pass the Harris
bill for the taxation and regulation
of the corporations. The demand
for the passage of this bill was ex-
ceedingly strong in the rural dis
tricts and it's defeat called forth Sc
we're condemnation from the coun-
try press.
A similar measure was presented
two years ago but failed to become
law. This fact was recalled by
Speaker Harris at the last session
in his argument for the passage of
his bill, and he warned the assem-
bly, that if the wishes of the coun-
try districts were again ignored, the
consequences might be serious.
While Speaker Harris did not
instigate and perhaps does not ev-
en- countenance the effort which is
now being made to defeat the Fair
appropriation, it unquestionably
springs from the widespread dissat-
isfaction of which he warned the