Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1910-04-28
REGISTER CHURCH
UNDER FIRE
EXPOSURE OF ALLEGED CROOK.
EDNESS CREATES MUCH
EXCITEMENT.
Investigations of Methods by Which
Various Carey Act Segregations
Were Obtained At State House
Gov. Brady Starts Ball Rolling.

Gov. l1fdQN OtitiNS Altttl ANoiAAhSs
BOISE. April 26.-As the result
of the resignation of NJ. l. Church,
Register Of the State Land Board,
under conditions which amount to his
summary dismissal by Governor
James II. Brady a state of affairs
has been disclosed which threatens
to have far-reaching effect.
According to Governor Brady At
torney w. L. David and A. F. Shaw,
Church entered into a contract with
A. F. Shaw whereby he was to re-
ceive the sum of s25OO if the plans
of the promoters of the Lemhi irri-
cation project went through. Accord
ng to Mr.. Shaw, when first approach
ed in the matter, Mr.. Church gave
no intimation of requiring any COM
mission for his services, but later
when the arrangements for the fin
ancing of the project were practically
completed, demanded the sum men
toned
In a conversation with Governor
Brady Saturday afternoon, Church ad-
mitted the truth of the charges, but
justified himself on the score that
..alhe had done as others had done. Ac-
cording to the chief executive, he
specifically named Secretary of State
81 Robert Landson as one of those who
had profited literally in lands through
his official position.
The inference that land promoters
have found it necessary to grease
the wheels" in official circles before
obtaining the necessary official sane
ton of the plans has caused a tre-
mendous sensation. and an investiga-
tion of a searching nature, embrac-
ing a number of different channels of
the machinery of state, is well within
the bounds of possibility, and in the
belief of many will bring about dis
closures to which the present state
of affairs will be but a circumstance.
GOVERNOR BRADY'S STATEMENT.
Governor Brady authorized the fol
lowing statement.
Il regret exceedingly that anything
should occur to reflect discreditably
upon any official or employe of this
state. l want to say that whenever
I find dishonesty in any department
/ shall sift it to the bottom and
punish or remove the offender if il
lies within my power. There has, as
everyone knows, been a great amount
of talk as to certain conditions exist
ing relative to the Carey act and Other
land matters in this state and l made
up my mind that it was my duty tC
see if there was any truth in these
statements. and if so to proceed t'
such action as to protect the people
of the state in the premises.
~AI l desired in the matter was t.
eradicate the evil and to place com
petent men in charge. In order t.
do this I deemed it best to worl
quietly so long as l was accomplish
ing results. l advised the land boar'
last year that ! was satisfied tha
Land Examiner Norman Belche
should be removed To this Secre
tary of state Lansdon objected, bu
at a meeting held in November, h
agreed to vote for his removal o
condition that he be permitted t
serve until the first of the year, an
as that was the only way he coul
be removed, the remainder of tn
board consented to it. He was pei
mitted to continue in Office until jar
uary !.
II am advised that he made al
praisements of land offered for sal
by the state without ever properl
inspecting the same. and if this doe
prove true. which believe it viii
the board will undoubtedly declal
the appraisements null and void.
"The next matter that was calle
-kto my attention was the fact th'
Register NJ. l. Church was acting I
attorney for certain persons and cor
panies who were securing Carey a
contracts from the state. I procee
-eed in a quiet way with my invest
cation. and last Saturday I receive
evidence that such was the case.
called Mr.. Church over to my Off