Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-01-28
Charges Made Against Land
Board, Graft and PAY
ment of Political Debts"
LEASE OF MINERAL LANDS
Motion to Appoint Committee 60 In
vcstigatc. Lost--Wranglc over
Capitol Building Fund.
lsnecIal 10 ~ "NeNs.Il

Boise. Jan 2S--SensaCoual charges
in which the words graft and pay
ment of political debts" occurred, were
hurled from the mouths Of a number
of senator's and representatives at this
mornings session Of the Legislature, at
the state land board. The sensation
arose over the disclosure Of 90 year
lease Of 5000 acres Of mineral land In
Nez Perez county 20 George w.
Thompson. banker politician OF Lew
iston, for the sole purpose Of extract
| ing iron ore therefrOm. Three or the
| four members OF the state land board
voted i'm favor of granting the lease
! and il is claimed that things are IN
such a shape that deal can be
| forced through. The lease has not yet
! been signed and the governor says IL
will not be until conditions are
thoroughly Investigated. The PROPOSE
ton rs on royalty basis Ga which 10
cents per ton for all ore extracted must
De- paid 60 the state, which cannot be
less than 1000 tons a year for the
| first five years and 5000 tons per year
thereafter. until the so years have
expired.
THOMPSON'S STATEMENT.
When interviewed ON the matter
n
is "a fair. square. open and above board
| business proposition. Secrecy was
maintained for good and sufficient rea-
sons ] had to Doe protected as against
/ interference. / am figuring on spend
ing 100000 10 determine the scope and
character OF the deposits. ! am willing
10 admit for arguments sake that iron
ore exists I'M paying quantities. Tie
only question IS as to tine royalty
not b. IN arHaaN1 Do
Both the house and senate wera
scenes of sensational charges this
morning and determined efforts We're
made in each 90 get through q motion
demanding the appointment OF q COM
mittee charged with the duty OF I'M
vestigating the matter OF the proposed
lease. but the motions were lost by
small margins.
CAPITOL BUILDING FUND.
The senate was the scene Of another
wrangle over McBcths motion TO-
| start an Investigation into the capitol
/ building fund ina which rAarges OF
/ carelesanesf, cNtraVagHnce and c0rrup-
/ ton were made in connection with Us
! eNuenditurcs. The senator's rosolu-
/ ton on this question carried. as pre-
! scented a few DAYS ago and In the dis
! cussi0n this morning motion pre-
/ vailed which viii compel the Custer
/ county senator 10 tppear before the
/ state affairs committee within nve
| davs and substantitate his charges Of
"eNtravagance and corruption
WHERE is HOLTZHEIMER?
Sdn another sensation was sprung az
| the capitol when the sheriff Of Bannock
| county authorized the sheriff of this
/ county 20 place unuder arrest Edward
/ J.. Holtzheimer. member OF the house
| Of representatives from BanA ok coun-
| ". The charge against h. is for
gerry but the member cannot be found.
/ A demand for his arrest came last
night. but up 10 this hour his where
abouts is unknown 10 his colleagues
| 1 nthe legislature. tt Is reported that
| he left yesterday for Pocatello. The
/ allegation is that he forged the name
Of Juuius Braunan to a deed convey
/ ing property 20 another. Mr.. Holtz-
| heinaer IL "a real estate man, and his
friends say that he viii be able 20 clear
himself perfectly; that tie action was
I by power OF attorney with which the
/ PARTY concerned has since become dis
| satisfied.