The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1909-02-04


Boise, Jan. %. In the senate today
Macbeth denounced the action of the
state land board In entering into Sc
cret agreement to lease to George w.
Thompson, the Lewiston capitalist and
politician, 5000 acres OF Neg perce
county mineral land for so years.
Macbeth said:
1.-The interests Of the taxpayers have
not been considered in this matter. A
political debt due Thompson for SER
vices rendered certain state officials
for their nc mination at the recent re-
publican convention la to be paid by
the taxpayers. The terms of the lease
are absurd and an outrage. Thompson
would obtain five-year lease on 3d.
600 acres for $3.50 or $50 per annum.
The royalty of l5 cents is too low. 1t
should be ut least rs cents with an as
cending scale similar to the lease the
Northern Pacific granted the steel
trust"
The county assessors of the state, in
session here with the state board of
equalization, today reached an agree
ment to assess all property In the state
at 40 per cent of it's actual cash selling
value. A general estimate Of last
years assessment placed the valuation
Of all property within the state at prac-
tically 80 per cent of the cash value.
and it Is claimed that If today's agree
ment 10 carried out in good faith, the
tax rolls should show an increase this
year of at least $50. 000, 600.
Boise, Jan. 30. There has been a
new development in the iron land lease
to G. w. Thompson for so years by
the state land board. The land board
at a special meeting decided that there
had been no lease voted, and that the
vote last Tuesday was as to whether
the leasle should be considered. This
last action of the board has apparently
not met the wishes of Thompson, and
today the latter secured the following
certified copy of the minutes of Tues
lays meeting:
Boise, Idaho. Jan. 20, 1909. The |
state board of land commissioners of /
Idaho met this day. pursuant to the
sall of the president. Present, Hon.
lanes II. Brady. governor and chair
nan; Robert Lansdon, secretary of |
'tate; d. G. McDougall. attorney gem
'ral; 5. Belle Chamberlain, superin-
'endent of public instruction; M. /.
jhurch, register. Whereupon the fol-
owing proceedings were had:
In consideration of the application
o lease lands In townships "a and SO
lorth, range east, for mineral pur-
'oses, by G. w. Thompson, the COVER
Tor, encouragement and secretary of
tate voted in favor of said lease. and
he superintendent against, on account
4 lack of time to fully consider said
natter. The majority being in favor
4 granting said application, the lease
vas ordered executed"
The register of the land board cert
les to the correctness of the minutes
nder oath. 1t is reported that Thomp-
on has expressed determination 10
ecure execution of the lease, even IL
he aid Of the courts must be obtained
compel Governor Brady's signature.
Boise, Feb. 1.-The senate commit
&c on privileges and elections, to
Taich committee the senate local OPP I
ION bill has been referred, this after
Don decided to hold public meeting {
Thursday evening for discuss n 9
this measure and the local opti m I
III passed by che house last week.
Macbeth's resolution passed the SEN q
te calling on the cap to building co A.
'ission for an estimate on the an ou Il
lat viii be required to complete the
sw capitol building, according to
|ans and Specifications as adopted. Ir
In the house. the Boise Commercial /
nb railroad commission bill was in I
oduced by McCutcheon, and at once a
'ferred to the judiciary committee. a
Foresman, of Lewiston, presented n
70 bills. asking for SIG, 600 for the I
ate fair at Lewiston, and $50, 900 for O
'e Improvement Of the Upper Snake o
yer, the improvements to be made 4
lder the secretary Of war. n
State Gets Tiffa fo / anrs