Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-04-26
STATE land BOARD
IN CARY ACT SCANDAL
M. |. Church Resigns and Further De-
VGlOpmGnS Are Promised

BOISE, Idaho, April ga sensa-
! ton that promises to involve several
state officers was sprung when it be-
came known that NJ. /. Church had
resigned as register of the state land
board to forestall, it is said, his re-
moVal by Governor Brady for the al
legged acceptance of a contract under
the terms of which he was to receive
$4,000 providing the Carey act pro-
1ect was financed. F. A. Shaw, rep
resentative of the company behind the
project, admits execution of the con-
tract which he says was drawn up
last Saturday, the day Church hand
ed his resignation to Governor Brady.
The developments have let loose a
food of rumors to the effect that
Carey act companies have been forced
to humor certain state officials and
employees to secure official action.
These will be the subject of an in
vestigation, it is said, by Governor
Brady and may possibly be taken up
by the next legislature.
Cant Serve Two Masters
Governor Brady said today: ANY
person who assumes a position of
trust under the state government
should devote his time and ability for
the good of the state and should in
no way directly or indirectly have any
interest in any property or claim
whatsoever in which the state is
interested. No person can serve two
masters at the same time. They
should either resign from the position
they occupy, or refrain from taking
advantages of the position that they
occupy for the purpose of personal
gain.
81 have therefore made this state
ment in open meeting of our land
board and this is simply reiteration
IF your attention should be called
to any violation of this statement on
the part of any state official or en-
ploye of the state, what action would
you take?"
Would Demand Resignation.
81 would not hesitate In case 1t
came to my knowledge that any cleo
tive official had violated either the
civil or criminal law to demand his
resignation or punishment, so far as
the law would permit, and If it was
not technical violation of the law.
but a moral one, l would say to
them that thought 1t was wrong and
would take such action as was with
in my power to prevent a recurrence.
If it were an employee of the state |
would most certainly demand his
resignation
Mr.. Church, 1t is said, has under
taken to act as attorney for a number
of Carey act projects whose affairs
are said to have come before the
land board For one OF these, the
Pratt project. Mr.. Church filed an
application for an extension of water
rights. it is alleged He is said to
have taken fees as attorney for such
projects while confidential and ad
yisory clerk for the board.
Lemhi Includes 1 900 Acres.
The Lemhi Irrigation company pro-
jeet, or the Mcbride project, as 1t is
also known, is located in Lemhi eoun-
ty and embraces approximately H.
600 acres. Proposals submitted to
the state land board, and on file in
the Office of the registrar. place the
estimated cost OF the project at $780,
900. The maximum price for water
rights as set forth in the proposal is
$50, but contract for reclamation OF
this land has not as yet been entered
into by the company with the state
board of land commissioners. The
application for segregation under the
provisions Of the Carey act is still
pending before the commissioner of
the general land office, Washington.
ID. c. The water supply for the pro-
jeet is to be obtained from the Lemhi
river. on the waters of which filing
has been made by Mcbride.
Amended Proposal Filed.
The Pratt Irrigation company pro-
ject is in the southeastern part OF
Oneida county and embraces 4,674