The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-02-23
STATE
LAND
AGENT
Report of Joint Committee
Made
Claims That He Did Not
Comply With Law

The joint committee Of the Senate
and House, composed Of Senators My.
ers and Mulkey. and Representative
Hermann, LaFollet and Hale. to in.
vestigate the selection and sale of the
school lands, known as lieu and base
lands, pursuant to charges OF fraud
in the State Land Department as
made by VIM. Bushey to the legisla.
ture as follows
The evidence of L. b. Geer shows
that he Is now and since April 1, 1899
has been State Land Agent under ap.
pointment Of Ex-Governor T. 7. Geer.
The evidence shows that L. b.
Geer as State Land Agent, did not
comply with the law in selecting lieu
lands in place Of lands lost to the
state In sections l6 aud 26, and neg.
lected his duty in selecting all such
lands and neglected TO prepare and
make a public record OF the same for
public inspection. as required by law
"The laws Of 1899 made the gov.
ernor land commissioner and required
him 10 ascertain all losses OF school
lands 10 the state. and TO select from
the best timber and other lands 10
make good all losses and perfect title
20. them 20 the state. and make re-.
cord thereof for public inspection,
and that such lands should not be
sold for less than $3.50 per acre to the
highest bidder; the laws OF 1899 pro.
vide further that the Governor shall
be allowed all necessary expenses in
cured in performing such duties, and
authorized him 20 appoint agent or
agents 20 fully perform the duties re.
qured by these laws l.. B. Geer Jus.
tihes his failure to comply with these
laws on the ground that there was
no appropriation therefor, and that no
order was made by the Governor or
the state Land Board requiring him
to comply with the requirements oil
the law, neither of which Justified his
neglect Of duty
IL is an admitted fact, found IN
the evidence OF W. II. Odel that ne
sold base for lieu land selections to
private parties during the term Of l..
b. Geer in office. 10000 or go 600 acres
at from 70 cents 10 Sl.75 per acre.
That he made such sales while oc.
cupying the Office Of l.. b. Geer State
Land Agent
There IS no evidence submitted to
the effect that had available timber
lands been selected by the state as
required by law, such lands could now
be sold for 100000 or more.
The evidence shows that Odel was
clerk Of the State Land Board from
August /. 1895, until January /. 1899 |
He testihes that he was appointed |
land agent OF the state in 1900 by ex.
Governor Geer TO select swamp lands
within the klamath Indian reserya.
tion, and that his appointment con.
tinued during the term Of oiice OF the
Governor That during much Of this
time he occupied the oAice with the
State Land Agent, L. B. Geer: that
while occupying this Office ne pre-.
pared a book OF descriptions OF lands
lost 10 the state in sections iG and 80.
which he offered 20 produce but after
wards declined 10 do so; that he sold
base lands while occupying tho once
with L. Geer I'm the State House
20 the extent OF 10000 or go 600 acres
and promised 70 furnish a list OF same
70 the committee. with names OF pur.
ehasers and amount received with
amount OF land but has since de.
clined 10 DO So.
The evidence OF Odeu al page 50 J
shows that he was not appointed 10 /
select swamp lands, but that ne was
commissioned an agent OF the state
TO adiudicate mineral school lands
lost 20 the state.
In conclusion YOUR committee beN h
lleves the laws enacted az this session
and the Investigation just closed viii
prevent future abuses mentioned in
this report"