The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1906-06-16

Hon. H. p. Powers, who was a
member of the last legislature, and
was appointed member of the leg
islative committee appointed to in
vestigate the conditions of the var
ious public funds. Mr.. Powers re
quests us to publish the inclosed
open letter, and thus oblige many
Republicans, and help to promulgate
facts" The Tribune publishes this
letter and leaves its readers to draw
their own conclusions. Mr. Powers
lives at Meridian.
An Open Letter.
To Whom 1t May Concern
Many inquiries have arisen in re-
gard to the action of a certain com
mittee which was appointed by reso-
luton of the House of Representa-
tives at the last session of the Legis-
lature, to investigate the conditions
of the various public funds arising
from the sale or leasing of lands
donated by the United States to the
State of Idaho for charitable and ed
ucational purposes.
The committee, after brief ex-
animation, made a partial report of
facts as they were found, viz, that
a very unsatisfactory condition ex-
listed with reference to these funds
Some of the counties were far in
arrearage to these funds. while 9TH
er counties appeared with surplus
to their credit. 1t was also ascer-
tanned that many thousands of acres
of timber had been sold in Sho-
shone county alone, contrary to the
provisions of the state land law as
amended in 1901. 1t was also found
that in some instances interest &C
cruing on deferred payments or
loans of permanent endowment funds |
had been transmitted to the State |
Treasury and placed to the credit of |
endowment funds, when they should |
have been placed in the maintenance |
fund.
The committee ascertained that
more time and work would be re-
quired to complete their researches |
than they could devote to it during |
the session of the Legislature.
Therefore, they made the report |
above mentioned, asking that a suf- |
iicient appropriation be made to de-
fray the necessary expense of COM
plotting their work.
This report of the committee, in |
Guiding the request for an appropria- |
ton and authority to complete their |
work and report to the governor and |
through him to the next Legislature, |
was concurred in by the House of |
Representatives by practically a |
unanimous vote. The committee had |
reason to believe and did believe that |
they had the full concurrence of all |
persons officially connected with the |
matter. Therefore, when drawing the |
bill to meet the expen-
SEES of the investigation they omitted |
to make the fund so created, payable
upon the order of the committee,
that all bills of expense
should be passed upon by the State
Board of Examiners. After the ad-
journment of the Legislature the
decided to make the inves-
tigation in connection with the State
Land Board, and so informed the
Governor. The Board was informed
more than a year ago that the COM
mittee was ready to proceed with
business. Such notice brought only
response. After repeated
efforts to proceed with the co-opera-
ton of the Board and failing, the
decided to go on without
that cooperation, but upon inquiry
they We're informed by the Attorney
General that said committee had no
power to proceed, that no funds were
available for expenditures, and by
virtue of the adjournment of the Leg
lslature was dead" In his "opin-
ion" the Attorney General argues
that no funds are available for the
because not so stated in
the act making the appropriation.
Why, then should not the same reas-
oning have prevented the Land
Board from applying the fund to a
purpose not mentioned in the act or
thought of at the time of its passage?
Notwithstanding the dead" con-
dition of this committee, some facts
have been dug up which are of vital
interest to the public
1t is evident that many and posi-
bly, all of these low priced and I'M
lawful sales of timber followed ri
diculus and fraudulent estimates,
placed thereon by estimators sent
put by the Land Board. In one in
stance the timber from 40 acres was
sold for $3.50. by the price OF lum-
ber then fixed by the Board this in