The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-01-17

Dy ac, OF May =, 1884 congress plac-
ed the control Of the rental Of school
lands in the hands Of a leasing board,
there to continue until suct time as
Tho legislature should cl.erwise pro-
vide
Every legislature since the passage
Of that act hae made aa a.eemp to
nass a schcul land bill ant make gen
eral provision for the rental Of the
school land and has Us often failed
part of tile time owing to disagree.
meat among the members aud part q
the time owing to the govern ms
ve.o.
Practically all the present rules,
aside from a few very general rU.cs
prescribed by the secretary Of 'he
interior for The guidance Of the Cover
nos prior to 1894, have grown up in
the office and from tirne TO time been
prescribed 10y the school land board,
consisting Of the governor, secretary
Of the territory and territorial super
intendent
II has always cen matter Of pride
with the various governors and othe~
members of tho board TO look ca-eful
Iy af er the best interests Of the school
lands. but owing TO the extended ma
ture Of the work, covering as it does
seyenty-slx hundred leases. a very
large authority has always heen con-
ferred ON the SECRETARY Of the board
GOVERNS pretty nearly the whole
range OF i.he work Appeals from any
decisions Of the secretary are taken
diretcly to the board whose action is
final
In general during the last fourteen
years the work Of leasing the school
lands has been satisfactory and ac.
complished results for outstripping the
best record Of any other state or ter
ritory in the union. This fact, 70. 4
is simple matter Of fact, does not
preclude the legislature iron improv
ing on the present method and enact
ing rules and regulations of their Owl
making, OF takta from the present
procedure, into territorial statutes
bearing in mind The fact that it is al
ways better TO fellow established Gus
TOMS unless clear improvements ar
made
This present legislative assembl!
will no doubt have many bills present
ed and many individual ideas express
ed as to the proper method Of conduct
ing this very lniportan. department o
ire territory. unless It gccatly depart
from the conduct Of all It's predeces
SOS II from all The variety II idea
entertained by the members and wi,
the aid of the regulations hcretcfor
in use by The board, a wise bin can b
framed an- passed, wei and good bu
10 follow merely in the steps of pre-
ceding assemblies is clearly idle an
waste of time. energy aud money
any legislation touching his SUI
iect should constantly have a care fc
Justice betweea two distinct classes
people; On jhe ore hand IS th
lesscc and on the othe- is tho schJ,
hoys and girls of oklahC na
The act OF congress gave BE.
lands Ia the school chilhel of OK
homa. The lessees have taken the
% the raw state and improved ihcg
paying therefor a yearly cash rent
and receiving the crops grown upf
ihe land n many cases valuable d
provcmnats Of permanent natu
have been made in hers thc lanN
remain IN gr5sian,iaily the SAME co
ditioa as when frs, leasrl
The lessees have very generally 6
eanized 10 look after their mteccs
ana ii wll De (he eu'y of the leeisl
ture 90 ST IN Judement dispensing 81
uce both 20 She school chlldrcn al
fhn Ieeefft