The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1910-07-21
A SERIOUS PROPOSITION.

some candidates in the north part o.
the state who will be. ex-of6cio mem
bers Of the state land board it vii
certainly have trouble at the election
The facts of the matter are that tn
people are demanding change o
some sort in the way the public land
are being handled and if they do no
make achange in the nomination ans
re-nominate the same officials who
are now serving on that board, the
people are mighty apt to make a
change in the political complexion
of this state next November.
Many people are wondering Why
the dealings of the present board are
being guarded so carefully from the
public instead Of the interest of the
public being guarded carefully by
this board, which duty the constitu-
lion of our state imposes upon them.
N-cy people are wondering what
has caused the change in the senti-
ment of many Of the timber interests
in regard to their choice for governor.
Many people are wanting to know
Why the governor, after stating that
all these deals would be scrutinized
very closely, suddenly gave out the
impression that he thought it would
be all right TO sell about $4,000 acres
Of timber land to the Weyerhauser
timber syndicate which is evidently
contrary to the intention of the fra
mers of the constitution. These
same people are also wondering Why
these timber interests are now sup
porting Governor Brady when they
we're not doing 50 before this big
deal vas about to be negotiated.
The state land board is the most
important board in the state and
those who are members Of it should
be people of the highest integrity as
there are more opportunities present
ed to this board for making serious
mistakes, that mean thousands Of
dollars to the state, than to any 9th
er. Should this big deal of selling
the $4,000 acres to this one timber
syndicate be consummated, the Her
aid believes that it viii be one of the
most serious mistakes that that board |
has made. Il is true that the tim
Der interests have already purchased
the timber on this tract but that
should not give them any advantage
in purchasing the land as they have
a certain time in which to remove
the timber which will not be out for
ten years. The big timber company
purchased the timber on this land
8 years ago and we're given twenty
years to remove it. Several times
since rumors have been afloat,
about the time the legislatsFe was to
meet, that they would ask for an ex-
tension Of time but the sentiment has
been 50 strongly against them that it
vas abandoned each time and now !
what are they going to dor II they
ian purchase the land at a good ]
bargain on which this timber stands J
hen they can use their own time in ]
which to remove the timber and keep
very one else out, not only Of their 7
wn holdings but would practically
rohibit the removal of the rest of I
be timber as their holdings in reali- n
? control the majority Of the tim
er in that section and would make Z
Improbable for any one else with
mall holdings IN there to remove I
heir timber. N
The constitution, in placing the N
andling of the public lands in the T
ands Of the governor, superinten-
ent Of public instruction, attorney o
Ieneral and secretary Of state, says
1t shall be the duty Of the state
'oard Of land commissioners to pro-
'ide for the location, protection, sale in
II rental Of all the lands heretofore, ier
Y which may hereafter be granted in
the state. The legislature shall, su
I the earliest practicable period
rovide by Law that the general
rants Of land made by congress to pa
he state shall be judiciously located i'
nd carefully preserved and held in Oe
ust, subject to disposal at public co
action for the use and benefits Of OF
Ie respective objects for which said CO..
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