The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-01
APPRAISERS
SIT IN review
School Land Board Are Hear
ing from the Lessees
HIGH KICKS REGISTERED
Lessee Must Show Why sHis
Rent Is Too High.
HIGH KICKS REGISTERED

Guthrie. O. T., Nov. 30.-The school land
appraisers now sitting -as board of re-
view in this city, are getting a good run
for their money. Kickers to the right Of
them, kickers to the left of them, kickers
before and behind, kick and kick and
kick. One of the members of the board
remarked to the Eagle representative that
he was getting somewhat scared. Some
Of those lessees look to me to be eleven
feet in height, and to be as big as a
covered wagon" he said, "and 1 believe
1 will ask the governor to call out the
militia.
The board does not waste any time on
the lessee who simply kicks because his
rent, in his estimation, is too high. He
must show cause why the rent should be
reduced or he gets no relief. As a con-
sequence, the gickers apepar before the
board with maps, showing the lay of their
lands, the disadvantages plainly marked
thereon, and try to convince the board
that they cannot possibly make the rents
out of the land and pay expenses. Some
times the kickers bunch their grievances
and have one man present the matter
all at one time. Again. they appear, one
at time, and air their troubles. The
Administration building is crowded with
the protestants, and more are on the
way.
There is a large representation of les
sees here from Woods county, headed by
Hon. A. McTaggart, who represented the
fifteenth district in the last legislature,
and who succeeded in passing a bill
through the house that was considered
very favorable TO the lessees. but ii was
killed in the council. Representative Nc
Taggart addressed the board this after
noon, and took the ground that while the
rentals may have been too low in the
past, that the present rentals, as fixed by
the board, We're excessive, and worked
hardship on~the lessees that was in
nowise deserved. He cited many special
instances where the lands could not be
made to produce the rents asked and
leave the lessee anything for working the
land. He made a forceful and eloquent
presentation of the lessee's side of the
question, and his remarks We're well re-
ceiVed. Many of the lessees here ar urg
ing Mr.. McTaggart to become a candidate
for the presidency of the territorial asso-
citation at the convention that meets in
this city on January 5. and declare him
to be the logical man for the position
Ex-Kepresentative John Embry. of
Chandler, also made an address before
the board today, and presented several
special cases where he claimed the rents
were too high. Mr.. Embry comes from
Lincoln county which has more school
land within its borders than any other
county in the territory. In the southern
part of the county there are whole town
ships where the lands are nearly all
school lands, having been reserved at the
opening as indemnity lands for tracts
lost to the territory in Indian reserva-
tions and from other causes. Consequent
ly the people of Lincoln county are vital
" interested in school land matters.
The board of review will sit for week
and every day will be warm number
The advance guard of the lessees only are
now here. but they are coming in Bunches
and it viii he simply impossible to hear
all the complaints in the time allotted.