The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-02-25
REPORT on rnE STATE GRANTS.
Finding, of the House Invsatignting Com
mIttee.


mittse.
Chairman Powers Of the house com,
mittee appointed to investigate the
state land department about two
weeks ago to ascertain as to the
amount OF land remaining and unap-
propriated In the various grants
made to the state by the federal
government In the admission bills,
and as TO the amount OF interest ac-
cruing from the different permanent
funds, submitting a preliminary re.
port. The principal portions OF
this report are as follows:
'First-We find 1t to be- very
difficult task to ascertain In acreage
just how much land remains unap.
proPriated, as nearly every approria-
tIon has been Ia dollars and not In
acres.
We find that Cos, $50 acres we're
donated by the general government
for the several institutions specified
in the said Idaho admission bill,
which STIMULATES that each donation
shall constitute a permanent fund
for Its specific institution, the
interest or proceeds Of which alone
shall be used for the support and
maintenance thereof For ths present
status 81 these several donations we
herewith submit statement which
establishes the fact that a very uu
satisfactory condition sx tsts
Second We fiud that the manner
Of trausactiag business pertaining TO
these funds, between the county
treasnrers and the state land depart.
ment and state treasurer il not uni
form, neither Is it on systematic
BUSINESS principles. Another state
ment appended as a part of orr re-
port, will reveal the fact that 10 Of
the counties Of the state show de
felt Of s12, 9OI.92. which facts show
that the county treasurers have sent
receipts to the land department, but
have not forwarded the money to the
state treasurer.
THE same exhibit will also show
that eight counties Of the state have
a surplus to their credit Of s7, =
425. %, which arises from the fact
that the county treasurers In these
counties have forwarded the money
to this amount to the state treasurer,
but have failed to report to the land
department from what source the
money vas received.
Third We find that approximate
~ $3.50 acres Of timber has been
sold contrary 10 the provisions OF
section 30 Of land Laws Of the state
Of Idaho in ShOsh0ns county alone,
and further inspection Of the records
sill reveal a similar condition In a
number Of other counties. Tho sales
above mentioned show date Of Decem
Der %, 1902.
'Fourth-We find further, that Ia
some instances where Interest accru.
ing from deferred payments or loans
OF permanent endowment funds has
been transmitted to the state treasury
and placed to the credit Of the pei.
manent fund, whereas It should have
been placed TO the credit Of the
maintenance fund Whether tAis
discrepancy arises from negligence
on the part Of the several county
treasurers or otherwise, We have not
had the time to certainly determine.
We are convinced by what wa
have thus far seen Of the records that
an effort has been made during the
last two years to correct the method,
Of business In the land department,
but such an inextrieable tansle hal
existed for years that Il Is absolutely
necessary, at any reasonable cost, e
rectify existing evils, and place tn,
land department on a substantial