The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-05-16
Announcement of
Land Commissioners
Mr. Ross States the Policy Of Ills Office
and Stands Upon His Record

4
rornor to attend, with him, the
great conference of governors called
h. President Roosevelt. Land com-
,issioner Ross gave out for publica
.,on the following formal announce
oot Of his candidacy for reelection ::
At the proper time l will file my
a.claration of candidacy for renomi-
notion by the Republican party for the
oHca ofCommissioner of Public Lands
:. tho urinary election to be held on
,bo second Tuesday in Septemb Der,
1908.
Nv candidacy is predicated upon
nv record as administrator of the
etate's land affairs. No Office is of
more vital Importance to the people
of the state of Washington. 1t reaches
and affects every citizen, present and
prospective.
am not party to any conn ina
tion or alignment with any candidate
for auv other Office and it Is my fixed
intention to refrain from entering into
any combination or alignment with
any other candidate.
Nv conduct as a public official, from
the eleventh day of January. 1905.
when [ assumed charge of the Office.
WAS fully and thoroughly Investigated
by committee. created by the last
legislature for that purpose. This
was done after l had publicly. and in
writing requested such an investiga-
ton. This investigation, however.
covered no other period and no other
administration of the Office.
Should the people of the state re-
nominate and re elect me to the Office
for a second term. L will not be a
candidate for a thdrd term.
The ordinary business of the office
is in fairly satisfactory condition.
The interests of the state. and partic-
ularly of the common school fund in
its relation with the federal govern
ment. are not now and for many years
have not been in satisfactory condi
ton.
have undertaken the settlement of
the differences between the state and
the national government. with a
view to the restoration to the state of
nearly three quarters of a million of
acres, of which the common school
fund of this state is deprived through
the policies of certain bureaus at
Washington. D.. c.. inaugurated about
ten years ago.
These negotiations have been carried
forward to such an extent that feel
safe in asserting that within two or
three years conclusion of these mat
tiers will be reached which will be
highly satisfactory to the people Of
the state. | have received assurances
to that effect and am now engaged in
working out the details
As mentioned in the report of the
legislative Investigating committee,
have undertaken and am carrying
forward the simplification and perfec-
tlon of the system of doing business
In my Office and. when the next leg
slature convenes, will submit to it
code of land laws which confident
iy believe will be adopted as sub
stltute for the vuluminous. conflicting
and unsatisfactory laws now in exist
ence.
Among the radical and complete
changes made by me In the manage
men of the Office. will mention the
following:
When | entered the Office, forth
With discontinued the unlawful prac-
uce of leasing the unencumbered
lands of the state by private agreement
oet~een the commissioners and the
applicant without any sale or leasing
al public auction. whereby large areas
Vi the public lands have been leased
al nominal rentals. Since that time,
oil lands leased in the first instance
we're first inspected. a minimum rental
nsed and. after due notice. the leases
scla at public auction to the highest
bidder.
upon entering the Office. Il found
:na1 the sections Of school lands with
~ or In close proximity to. tho large
...ies OF the state. through the prac
"'e Aforesaid, we're fast becoming en-
su~oered with leases, and under these,
unsatisfactory and ungainly improve
aen1s' in many instances were beine
a aaoe' whereby competition at tn.
sa'ss OF the lots and blocks were stiflei
;a tne interests of the state injur
'ously affected.
refused TO lease or release AMI
r0'',on OF these sections, with tn.
n s'uiI that in subsequent sales The
l a. or slightly encountered
~ ~ sa SOLO for prices ranging from l0(
H.. wv per cent higher than the prices
etofore PREVAILING