The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-03-15
INQUIRIES into
BOARD ME- ETHODS
Senate Holds Up Governors
Appointments of State Land
Commissioners.
HEAR TESTIMONY OF LEHI
BANKER CONCERNING CHECK
Main Opposition Appears to Be
to Confirmation of w. D.
Candland.

For two hours Tuesday afternoon the
members of the senate In executive ses-
sion discussed the reappointmen. by the
governor OF the present state board OF
land commissioners At the close of the
executive session Tuesday afternoon the
senate had not acted on the appoint
ments and they will be considered In ex-
ecutive session again this morning at $3.50
o clock.
While none of the members Of the sem
ate would say anything with reference
TO the matters under discussion in ex-
ecutive session. 1t was patent that the
appointment OF the members Of the land
board. Before the executive session was
begun Senator Benner y. Smith, who has
been conducting a quiet probe into the
affairs of the state land board, procured
number of books and documents bear
Ing on the transactions OF the land board.
Friel Witness.
Later c. c, Friel, receiver for the Utah
Banking company, owner OF the banks at
LehI and American Fork which were re-
Gently closed by order OF the state bank
examiner. appeared before the senate in
executive session. Over the long distance
said that his testimony before the senate
In executive session was OF a confidential
nature and that he did not care 10 di-
vulge il.
was concerning a loan made by the state
land board TO the Irrigated Lands COM
pspy amounting to 100000 on the Price
river irrigation project. The loan, IL is
understood, was conditional, and all
checks against the 100000 were to be
signed by the secretary and treasurer of
the Irrigated Lands company and by n
member OF The state land board. One
check against this fund was brought 10
Salt Lake and exhibited to the senate
by Mr Friel. 1t was for $4,000. The
ri uraS ~ 5,iNinQcfOn
secretary and treasurer OF the Irrigated
Lands company, and countersisned by W.
o: Candland. president of the state board
of land commissioners. 1t bore the date
of July q, 1905.
Needs Explanation.
MIR. Friel said that the check was reg
ularly drawn and payments were regular
ly made. Furthermore, he said that the
mere statement that such check was
issued would appear misleading without
an explanation that he thought should
accompany the statement. However, he
said he was not in position to make
ed that which transpired In the executive
session OF the senate as confidential. He
volunteered the statement that his testi-
mony before the senate was not OF SEN
satlonal nature,
From the remarks dropped by the mem
bers of the senate II was evident that
the inquiry into the transactions OF the
stat. land board was not concluded when
the senate "sauntered'' at O'Clock Tues
day evening. II will probably be con-
tinued this morning. The senate expects
TO go into executive session at $50 o'clock
this morning and to continue in executive
session until il has agreed on the con-
firma ton or rejection OF the appontees.
Fight on Candland
While the principal fight in the senate
appears to be on the confirmation OF the
reappointment of Candland. the confir-
nation or all OF the appointees 10 the state
land nuard is being deferred until the In
qulry Is concluded. The members of this
board all .reappointed by Governor Spry.
Lynch, secretary; NJ. NJ. Steele ". II.
rhain and a. G. Giauque. Two years ago
the senate refused 70 confirm the appoint
ments of Candland and Thain. lmmed-
legislature both were named as recess
appointees by Governor Sprv and they
are at present members of the board.
Early in the present session Senator
Benner y. Smith gave an indication OF an
intended inquiry into the methods en-
ployed by the state land board through
the introduction OF resolution asking
for information relative to the leasing
ant 4nd also relative to the loans. If any.
which had been made to members of the
state land board or TO corporations In
which they we're stockholders.
Within the Law.
Secretary Lynch OF the state land board
report covering the matters contained
in the resolution The report showed
that the land concerning which informa-
lion was sought had been leased by the
state land board to W, d. Candland for
grazing purposes. II had been leased TO
him prior to the time Of the passage OF
the law prohibiting the leasing of lands
of the state TO members or the state
land board and although the lease had
been renewed since the passage OF the