Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-03-13

laid before three members of the board
ON or about Feb. 16, 1871, and that the
board agreed to call meeting 10 con-
slider the same, and that they did, oii
the 26th of February, 1897, call o meet
ing. bus that no Investigation Was
made and said meeting was adjourned
for the reason that member OF the
board was absent, and that ADJOURN
ment was had until the 18th day OF
March. 1906 and there Is no evidence
before the committee that the board
at any time has investigated or acted
upon either OF these charges
So far as the committee Is advised
there is nothing in The law prohibiting
q member or employee of the board OF
land commissioners from acquiring
stale lands IN the ordinary and usual
way. But in our opinion, Ii Is q. serious
Violation OF public duty and contrary
to the duty and TRUST owing by EN-
ptoSes and officers OF the public, that
an officer or an eTnploye Of the state
land board should use or disclose in
formation received by hin, as to the in-
tesliions OF citizens to make selections
or purchase public lands and either
himself on through another cause prior
selections 10 be made or honesteads 10
be filed on the same for his personal
'rbepefit and for Ike PURPOSE of deieating
the application of citizens desiring 10
purchase, And the committee Is of the
opinion thar Anderson is guilty as
charged OF the above violations OF pub
lie duty and that The Individual menu
bers of. and that the state land board
as a board should have. when informed
OF such charges, made a thorough in
Nestigation thereof. and taken such
steps as TO avoid in the future the rep
etttion of the same.
The committee is further of the
opinlon that the legislature should by
law require that the state board OF land
commissioners should upon the receipt
of all applications Immediately indi-
cate thereon the exact Time OF the re-
ceipt thereof, so that such applica-
lions as receive priority by reason OF
time could not be defeated.
AS To FUTURE PENALTIES,
We are further OF the opinion th.G
some provisions should be made looking
to the punishment OF members or emf
pfoyes OF she state land board who for
their personal gain. or with the intent
TO interfere with the acquiring of state
lands OF citizens, disclose the infornla-
ton that they receive in their official
capacity and cause other parties to Sc
lect said lands or homestead the same.
Your committee is further OF the
opinion that neither the members OF
The board nor employees of the Office
NC NAillo SuSilB W
either directly or indirectly acquire any
of the public lands OF the state, or any
interest therein. This would seem to
be wise provision In view of the fact
that the state board Is the selling
agency of the state. and neither the
selling agency nor the individual nem-
bers thereof should be permitted 10
buy from themselves,
Your committee Is further OF the
opinion that section Ii. chapter g., Laws
of 1899. as amended by chapter 81,
Laws OF 1901. should he amended so as
to prohibit the state board from ac-
cepting ACCOMPLISHMENTS of homestead
entries of persons who have filed the
same after an application had been
filed by other persons with the board
Tor the selection or purchase of the
same lands, OF amy part thereof.
Respectfully submitted,
r.. A. lluL4ANISkI
Chairman
GEO, w LAWRENCE,