The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-03

| IMPORTANT
BILL WAS
CONSIDERED
Oklahoma House Passed the
School Land Bill.
COUNCIL TO CONSIDER
Measure Has Created Much
Talk in Territory.

Guthrie, o.. T.. Feb BY vote of
twenty TO three. the house this afternoon
passed Mr. Taggarts school land bill.
creating territorial land Office and
commissioper thereof. and providing for
a board ofs territorial land commission
ers, and prescribing the duties of such
officers; and providing for the leasing and
management of all lands-owned or con-
trofIed ny the territory OF Oklahoma.
Three members Of the house. ThreadgiIl,
Major and Ballinger were not present
when the vote was taken. The measure
has created spirited discussion and makes
many radical changes in the present law
relative to the handling OF school lands.
Speaker Bowles is given credit with hav-
ing prepared the bill and when the mat
ter came up in the committee of the
whole, he actively championed the bill
The bill has provision in il stating that
all lands shall be appraised by the town
ship or county assessor. as the case may
be, and that the land shall be leased at
price not to exceed six per cent of the
appraised value. The contention OF a
number of members was that the lands
would not be appraised high enough by
this method, thus cutting off a large
portion of the revenue by the territory.
This matter was fully brought out before
the vote on the bill was taken. by VIII
Eams of Pawnee, who has always been
opposed to the measure.
A clause in the bill proides that there
may be subletting of leases, which in
itself, is believed TO he a loophole for
''grafters." The Republican members of
the house who voted for the measure
are of the opinion that the bill will not
pass the council, or that if it does, there
Will be amendments, which viii not be
acceptable 20 the house. These members
are in favor of school land legislation
and as Decker of Grant. stated, when he
voted, Il will vote for this bill and wish
We could have something better
Murphy, of Custer. voted against the
ing that it would decrease the territory's
revenue and that it was discrimination
against the western part of the terri
tory. Jones of Dewey, also opposed the
bill and voted against it when the roll
was called
1t is already known that at least two
Democratic members of the council are
opposed to the bill and will not vote for
it as ii now is when it comes up for con-
sideration. This fact makes it almost
certain that the house bin will meet with
trouble and that there are chances
against any radical changes in the pres
ent school land system, by the present
legislature.
The fact that the Democrats are
pledged 10 take care of the school land
le ssees by reason of a clause in their
territorial platform, has practically made
this bin a party measure. The bill pro-
vides a salary of 81 500 per year for the
secretary and cuts the Office force. max
ing it doubtful whether the work in the
office can he taken care of. The secre-
tary is required to give a bond of $4,000.
The quarantine bill will be the next
important matter taken up by the house.
After passing the school land bill. the
house adjourned to meet at IL o'clock to-
morrow
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
The trust situation, which is attracting
attention because of congressional agita-
ton. was brought TO the attention of the
members of the council this morning.
when memorial was presented by the
National Livestock association with a
bill attached which this organization is
desirous of having made a law. The
memorial stated that the attached bill |
is in line with the Sherman antitrust
law. and that by legislation III all states
and territories the trust evil could be
more easily handled. The memorial was
not considered. but will be called up at
some future session of the council. The
bin as prepared is complete and in reality
contains every provision embodied in the
Sherman law.
\ few sections of the proposed bill are
given as follows:
Section l. That every contract combin-