The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-12

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latfng to the school land situation. The
PringIe resolution is as follows:
Resolved, That committee consist
ing of three members OF the house, be
appointed to investigate the present
methods of handling the school lands
belonging to the state and report to the
house as soon as possible whether in
their judgment it would not be to the
interests of the state to withdraw all
school lands from the market; provide
for the appointment of a school land
commissioner or a board of comnais-
sioners to investigate, systematic and
provide for the proper care and leasing
of these school lands, collect delinquent
rents and other money due from past
sales of lands"
Ex-Speaker PringIe says concerning
the resolution: MY idea is that the in
Vestigation by this committee can be
made right here in the state house; no
outside Investigations will be neces-
Sary. ] believe 1t can be shown that
colluSion has existed for the purpose of
buying up state land for practically
nothing. For example, a number of
farmers desiring to purchase tracts of
land will enter into an agreement not
to bid against each other for the land.
They are thus able to purchase for the
minimum price, $1.25 an acre, land
which is really worth not less than SIS
an acre. If it can be shown that col
lusion exists, the title to the land is
invalidated. It may be possible for the
state to thus recover possession of a
large quantity of school land which has
been sold 1t is my idea that the school
land should be withdrawn from the
market for the time being, pending in
vestigations as to its value. had been
investigating this matter and had my
resolution ready before I knew what
Governor Hoch had in his message on
the subject
The. reference which Governor Hoch
makes to the school land sales in his
message is as follows:
1.-The attention of the legislature is
particularly called to matter of great
importance concerning our school land
possessions. There are yet unsoId
school lands approximating one mil
lion acres, located chiefly in the west
ern half of the state. Under the law
these lands are on the market at the
minimum price of $1.25 per acre. It
is a matter of common notoriety that
lands in that part of the state as well
as in other sections of the state have
greatly enhanced in value during the
last four or five years, and especially
during the last two or three years.
Individual owners have generally ad-I
vanced the price of their holdings
more than the entire amount at which
these school lands are held. These
school lands should either be with
drawn from market or the price at
which they will be sold increased COM
mensurate with the growth and de-
velopment of that country. I believe
a million dollars can be saved to the
state school fund by prompt action on
the part of the legislature IL this mat
ter
The house committee on employees
met all Wednesday afternoon and part
of Wednesday night. At O'Clock this
morning they presented to Speaker
Stubbs a list of 25 employees whom
they had selected, and he passed upon
them. Although the employees of the
house now number only about 35, it is
likely that this mum Der viii be con-
increased from time to time.
more help, and there IS really a dearth
of people to do the work in some de-
partfnents. Between now and the end
of the session there will probably be
a doubling up of the present list of
house employees.
Fred Knapp, chief clerk of the
his assistant. Wilson is the man who
was a candidate for the place against
Knapp.
The action of the house in refusing
to vote itself any postage stamp
money will be reconsidered before the
session is over. There is a strong
are entitled to the postage which they
spent during their campaign and
since their election. and they figure
that $50 will no more than pay the
bill.
AS might be expected, there is the
usual kick on the length of the chap
head should not let this worry him.
1t is part of the regular order of busi- |
hess.