The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-22
SENATE LAYS down
LAW TO GOVERNOR
Refuses to Confirm Two of His
AppOintees on State
Land Board.
HAS NO USE FOR THE
EXECUTIVES RELATIVE
Candland Is Also Rejected,
Rather Warm Letter Is
Sent to Cutler.

The Senate of Utah is tired of being
slapped in the face by the Governor of
Utah. The Chief Executive may defy
public opinion, but he cannot DEFY the
Senate Two days ago the Senate sat
down upon William j. Lynch, brother.
lu-law of the Executive, and ". D.
Candland TO be members of the State
Land Board The reasons were mada
known at the time, Both were laid
upon the shelf.
Since then, the Senators have been
buttonboled and csioled and threatened,
in fact all kinds Of pressure has been
brought 10 bear upon them TO induce
majority to change their minds and
vote for the confirmation of these two
men. Yesterday the names OF Brother
in~Law Lynch and Mr. Candland again
, came before the Senate for members of
the land board. This direct slap in the
face was too much and the riot act was
read TO the Executive, this. too, in open
session, for the bars were down and
the secrecy Of an executive session did
not hide the proceedings.
Not only this, but q caustic letter
was transmitted to the Governor, re-
qucstipg his reasons for again forward
ing the names OF the two men for posi-
tions when the Senate had already re-
iected them The reply of the Governor
follows;
commonweelth Of Utah, Executive
March IL 1907.
The Honorable s. II. Love, President
Of the Senate-Dear sir: have the hon
or to acknowledge receipt OF your com
munication of this date. In which ! am
asked by your honorable body To state
why. In view Of my having been az
vised Of your refusal 10 consent 10 the
nomination Of Mr., w. j, Lynch and Mr..
w. d. ChandIand as members Of the
State Board OF Land Commissioners for
| the term of two years, | again submit
| the same appointments for your advlcs
and confirmation, and insist:
First. That no official statement OF
! the reasons for the refusal OF confirlia-
| tlon OF these gentlemen has reached
me, and l am therefore under the ueces-
| sity OF relying on the comment OF neWs-
| papers, and on minors which, as you
know. cannot always be relied on. as
| your reasons.
Second That notwithstanding this
hearsay | am 1rinly convinced that the
gentlemen, are honest. capable and
worthy OF the confidence of the citizens
OF the State And this conviction is
based not on conjecture. but on n
knowledge OF the Interior working Of
the land office during tbs incumbency OF
the present board.
Third. That If unsustaned rumor and
conjecture are To be taken as final proof,
even the best OF citizens will not be safe
from censure.
]
vlnced OF the derelIction and unworthi
ness of these gentlemen. ] respectfully
hold that their nominations should he
confirmed For It has been a rule of
my life not to condemn a man until In
disputabe proof Of his guilt has been
produced.
Awaiting your further action and ad-
vices 1 have the honor OF being. yours
JOHN c. CUTLER.
Smith Opens the Ball.
Immediately after the names OF
Lynch and Caudland bad been read
Benner X Smith arose and asked unani-
nous consent that the confirmation OF
these names be considered in open ses-
sion The motion Of the Senator was
unanimously agreed to. and Mr.. Smith
proceeded in an earnest, dignified and
clean cut speech to place the whole mat
ter before the Senate,
Mr.. Smith stated that he had brought
the matter of malfeasance IN office TO
the attention OF the Senate. "a spe-
cial committee had been appointed,
he said "'to investigate into the truth
OF those charges. That committee had
found that every charge made was true
and much more At the time he made
the charges he stated that political
pressure would be brought to bear 10
suppress the truth. While not desiring
TO make public what took place the
other day in executive session, 1T was
evident, and you all know ii, that po-
litical pressure had been brought to
bear on certain of the members 10 IN
flucncc them to vote for confirmation.
| assume, aud | have right to assume,
that the Governor knew conditions as
they existed.
iIn February ] saw the Governor
and had talk with him, concerning
the conduct of the board and IT'S chiet
clerk The Governor appeared TO be
very indignant and expressed himself
strongly respecting the matter ana
the board. which we did. Mr.. Lynch
stated that he had knowledge of the
chief clerk s connection with the SOren-
sen entry. | then Informed the Gov
ernor there would be an investigation,
II not by the board there would have
TO be one in the Senate,
"a meeting was called by the board,
TO be held February %, On that date
[ was informed by the secretary OF tho
board that the meeting had been post
poned for some ten days l then IN,
fromed Mr.. Secretary Dixon that | did
not believe they intended to mold
meeting 30 investigate the charges
which 1 and others had preferred. IL
was after this that | made the charges
in the Senate and asked that special
committee be appointed TO make an IN,
vestigatiou. And in this connection,
want to emphasize what sad on thal
occasion. that my duty ms Senator OF
this State compelled me to bring this
matter TO the attention of the Senate
OF such Irregularities and malfeas'
ance in Office as were shown by the in.
vestigatiou to obtain in the Land Office
if that is the standard of ethics OF
public Office in this state. want tho
people to know IL. shall not be
party 10 its covering up or vote 10
continue such official conduct. Dealing
with an individual is different from