The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1909-02-19
NOW LAW MAKERS
WILL Be PUSHED
THE WITHDRAWAL FROM SALE
OF STATE LANDS SUITS
= THE HOUSE.,
STATE MINERAL RIGHTS,
There Are Important Matters Now
Up for Real Good Hard Work by
the States Lawmakers.

the States Lawmakers.
s Especial Correspondence.)
Lansing Mich, Feb. Is, 1909.
The close OF last week In the legis-
lature was made a day earlier to en-
able members to celebrate Lincoln's
birthday and attend the state conven-
ton at Grand Rapids, but 1t was def
nitely understood that the week will
begin good hard work in turning out
laws, and nothing will be permitted
from now on to interfere with the
actual labors in hand.
To Stop State Land Sales.
A digest of the report of the special
forestry commission of inquiry, upon
the showing of which Rep. Maxey de-
manded the passage of the resolution
withdrawing state homestead tax
lands from the market, in which he
was unanimously supported by the
house, shows these things:
Among spectators who deal in
state lands are many county and state
officials.
During the period between 1902 and
1907 the state disposed of 1,194 1853
acres of state lands at an average
cost per acre of $1.08.
In the last five years $4,000 acres
were disposed of, Of which 21,455
acres were investigated. On this 81
455 acres the board of inquiry finds
the state lost $21S.749. This land was
sold for $31,777 and the timber alone
was worth $15S,610. Under this basis,
the loss in the five years would aggre.
gate 1885, 400
Applied to the period of six years
70 inc
was $121S0, 800, or enough for the en-
tire state expenses for the ensuing
two years.
During the twelve years ending
1907, 4S1R per cent of the land taken
was for supposed demonstrating, but
of this only per cent was held. the
rest being abandoned within a year
and after being stripped Of the
timber.
State tax lands have never been
adequately appraised. In many in
stances the appraisal was either
fraudulent or amounted to nothing.
1t was these rather startling state
ments that put Rep. John o. Maxey
on the warpath against the system in
vogue in the auditor-general's and
land commissioners offices. Maxey
has said little during the three or
four days he has been making ready
for the springing of the resolution to
withdraw the homestead tax lands
and appoint a subcommittee to in
vestigate with the end in view of af
fecting permanent regulation and pro-
lection
There was some talk on the floor
and Rep. Yeo objected to the resolu-
ton as it stood for purely technical
reasons. But there was no real OBJ
lection, and when the vote came it
was unanimously adopted Speaker
Campbell appointed a committee of
five instead of three, as was the first
plan. Reps. Maxey, Morrico, Bierd.
subcommittee which will attempt to
carry out the special commission of
inquiry's ideas.
Commissioners Position.
Commissioner Russell announced
that he would withdraw all the lands
in question in compliance with the
terms of the resolution. There had
been more or less criticism of the po-
sition taken by the state officers, and
especially Commissioner Russell.
Members OF the special forestry COM
mission OF inquiry have stated to
members OF the legislature that the
land commissioner was enthusiastic
for the commissions ideas before his
election, and from correspondence
subsequently had suffered a change of
heart. Mr.. Russell himself denies
even passive opposition to the reso-
luton on the proposed bill He has
been anxious to act within his rights
and not to overstep his legal author
lev \ II
termination to be fair, but it is his
conception OF his Intentions, purely
and simply.
Wants the State to Share.
Maxey is an enthusiast. Beside
the arguments of the special commits
sion, he exhibits a map of the state
showing the tax lands and tax home
stead lands. In the upper peninsula
much OF this is right above known
iron and copper yielding lodges. He
wants the state to reserve mineral
rights on all state lands passing out
OF its hands in the future and gain a
little OF the great benefit derived by
Minnesota In the conservation of
mineral rights that is paying all the
states great school expense and
piling up a tremendous surplus.
Housc 6iIIS.
On Friday before the house adj
journed a number of bills were intro
duced which are of general interest.
Among them:
Rep. Fouch introduced a bill to
regulate and govern drain proceedings
where two or more counties are liable
TO assessment for benefits In the con-
etruction of a drain.
Rep. Stewart introduced a bill to
increase the efficiency of the military
establishment of the state of Michi-
gan and to repeal all former acts or
parts of acts inconsistent with the
provisions of this act
Rep. Wander Veen introduced a bill
to provide for the disposition of lands
sold for taxes and abandoned by the
owners thereof.
Rep. Newkirk introduced a bill to
provide for the payment of deposits
In bank, savings bank or trust COM
many when homestead IN the mama 30