The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-03-05
HASKELL APPROVES
LAND SALE BILL
The Governor, However, Desired a
Measure Providing For Sale of
All Public Lands.

Guthrie, Okla, Mar. 5-The gov.
ernor has addressed the following mes
sage to the legislature bodies under
the date of March 2, 1909.
To the Honorable Legislature:
Amended Senate Bill Number one,
by Senators Eggerman, Cordell, and
Morris, and by Representatives Cas-
tell and Maxey, has this day been ap-
proved by me. The great Importance
of this subject to the people of the
state, | believe, warrants further men
tion.
In the first place, | may be par
doned for exercising the right which
every member of the Legislature, as
we'll as the governor is entitled to,
that is: His individual opinion on all
questions. For myself | had hoped
for bill providing for the sale Of
all public lands of the state.
Il am strictly opposed to the ten
antry system
Il belive tnat home owners are far
more to be desired than home renters.
Il believe that the lessees have help
ed largely to make the values that
now attach to these lands( and are
entitled to liberal consideration
believe the state will derive more ben
eft from taxes and interest on pro-
ceeds than can ever be derived by
the rental system
These being my personal views Of
the question, | contended in the con-
stitutional convention for a provision
authorizing the people or the legisla-
ture to provide for the sale of the
land. At the first session of the legis-
lature | urged such legislation falling
in that | called a public meeting, open
TO all the citizens of the state who
cared to participate met with them
and helped to prepare a bill which
was initiated and voted upon at the
last election, and believe for want of
clear understanding of it's provis-
ions, the bill failed to receive a major
ity of the votes cast
| can understand, however, that |
the honorable body has fairly assumed |
from the expression Of public opinion
that your bill for the present sale of
substantially fifty six per cent of the
acreage and of the classes of land desi-
gnated will meet the approval of the
great majority of our people, and fur
ther that the indemnity lands are in
such large bodies as to render local
government and development almost
impossible, until these large bodies
of land are vested in individual own
ers. Also that the needs of state and
even public buildings makes the sale
Of public building land a necessity.
Also ! believe fully that the expert
ence of the state, even within the next
year, in the sale of the lands you have
to be sold, and the continu-
ed use of the funds derived from the
proper classes thereof in aiding our
farmers with farm loans at low rates
will convince the people that at an
early date ii will be best to sell the
of the lands.
For all these reasonse above given,
approve this bill and express the
nope that its operation may be so
satisfactory to your honorable body
md to the people Of our state. that at {
IN early date they may provide for {
he sale of the remainder thereof. /
"As to the consideration given the $
essees under this bill concessions, yet |
believe that time would tend to pro
luce less favorable consideration z
URY IN THE COOPER TRIAL S