Bisbee daily review., 1907-10-02
REFUSES ID PAY SCHOOL LAND
 RENTAL
Man Win Who Has Occupied Eighty Ei Acres For Nine Years With out Paying ACent Will Test The Law.
(Phoen:x Democrat.)

To test the territorial law, provid ing for the collection of rental for thu leasing of school lands, Maricops county will within the next few days bring suit against A Starkweadhe7 to force the payment of rentals fol the mast nina years
 Starkweather has for ten years cul tiyated eighty acres of rich farm land in section 26, range , north and east located on Grand avenue near | Six Points.
 Recently notice was served on Starkweather that he would have to settle with the board of supervisors. This notice followed one from Attor- ney General Clark that all the conn- ties of the territory must turn into the territorial treasury the money for all the school lands leased by them.
 Attorney General Clark stated that unless each of the Arizona counties, in which school lands are leased. to farmers sent in the tax suit would be brought to enforce eollec- ton.
 Starkweather was found to be one who had made no payments. and when he was called upon informed the supervisors that he would not make payment unless forced to do so by order of the court
 Searkweather contends that the territorial law under which county boards of supervisors are collecting money for the leasing of school lands is unconstitutional, and that n his opinion would be declared void if taken into the courts.
 The power of the territory to pass the law concerning the leasing of school lands is called into question by Starkweather. who is already prepar- ing to fight any suit that may be brought against him by the super yisorc
 Several who are now leasing school lands from the county, but most of whom have paid their rental, have joined with Starkweather and will as- sfst him in fighting an action that may be brought by the county It is said that Starkweather has already employed attorneys, who are advising him what steps to take.
 District Attorney Bullard stated this morning that his attention has been called to the stand taken by Stark weather by the board of supervisors. and that he will within few days be- gin to prepare the papers in the case. Bullard states that as far as known nc test has ever been made of the school land law.
 Under the organic act of Arizona sections 16 and 36 in every township are set aside for the maintenance of the public schools. This land each county is allowed to lease. turning the full proceeds into the territorial treasury from which it $ pro-rated 10 the different counties.
 Asked why Starkweather had not been prosecuted before. though he has not paid for nine years, Chairman Orme of the supervisors stated that MAricopa county is practically the l only one in Arizona from which there is any revenue from schools lands. When this county brings a suit 1t has to stand ali the expenses in spite e the fact that any money it gets must be pro rated among the other coun- 1 ties.
 Starkweather first leased the eighty acres he holds sn 1897, He took lease for five years, paying s56.77 for the first year. Since that time he has refused to make any more payments. At the end of the first live years the price was increased to about sSo. StarkweatRex noX> owes total of about s627. The sMt VII ask that he be made to pay tHs.