The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-01-22
MISTAKE TO BE AVOIDED.

one OF the most important meas.
ures which has been brought up for
the consideration Of the Oklahoma leg
islature during the present session
is that which is known as Senate
Bin 40 I by Eggerman, Cordell and
Morris The purpose OF this bill is
to provide for the sale OF all public
lands owned by the state which were
taken in lieu Of sections 16, Sc, 13
and 33, and known as indemnity
lands. together with all sections num-
bered 13 and 33 which were reserv-
ed by the United States and granted
! TO this state. and also all lands
which were specifically withdrawn
/ from the public domain by the en-
abling act, approved June 16, 1906.
There has never been any serious
| objection TO the sale of the indemnity
| school lands. They were lands which
were selected in lieu of those which
were regularly granted but lost to
the people Of the state as public prop
erty by reason Of Indian allotment.
The indemnity lands were generally
selected in contiguous bodies and. in
some instances at least the public
I ownership Of such lands mas not oper-
ated beneficially In the matter OF
local taxation and, IL is claimed, the
. building Of roads and schools has
been retarded thereby. The same is
true Of the lands which were donat-
cd by the general government in
specific amounts 70 the several In
s'itutions OF higher learning by the
terms of the organic act and also OF
all sections numbered 80 which We're
donated 10 The state for public build
ing purposes This bill does not pro-
pose 20 sell the sections numbered
lG and 60, which We're reserved and
donated 20 the state for the benefit
of the public schools. but It does pro
pose to authorize the sale OF all sec
tious numbered 13 which were grant
I'd 10 the state for the benefit and
support Of the university and the 9th.
er higher Institutions of learning
II there Is any valid reason why
the sections numbered 1G and SO
should not be sod-and It seems TO
be- admitted that there are many-the
same will apply in the case Of the
sections numbered 10 which were set
apart for the benefit Of the higher
institutions OF learning The proceeds
of such sales would necessarily haze
to find some field for investment
Private capital is constantly being in
vested IN Oklahoma lands for the
reason that such an investment is
regarded as safe and profitable
one. Why then should the people OF
the state allow this permanent en-.
doUmont Of their institutions OF learn
ing 10 De Withdrawn from an abso-
lutcly safe form OF investment and
reinvestod in some more hazardous
field?
The friend OF the university Of
Oklahoma and the agricultural and
mecahnical college and the several
state normal schools should see 10
II that the state lands which are In.
cluded in sections numbered l3 are
not affected by the proposed sale OF
state lands. II would be most seri
Gus mistake TO permit the measure
10 become a law with such a pro-
vision.-Oklahoman
Congressman Willett may be rcprl.
manded by his republican colleaguos
| and his remarks may be eXpunged
/ from the record, But they cannot
/ be eXpunged from the newspaper
files Congressman Willett hunted
spotlight position and found one
! ~-----eH-s