Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-03-23
WAS A WA|TEWASA.
Old Land Board Investigated by
Senate and House Friends.
s|DE,sTEPPED TWO CHARGES
Medbury Project and Investing in
Lands by Board Not Gone Into.

The following article from repub-
lican paper, the Inland Herald ofSpo-
kane, tells some truths regarding the
regent whitewash of the members of the
late land board Of Idaho who were
investigated by their friends last
month. In speaking of the whitewash
the Inland Herald's correspondent
says:
One Of the most interesting features
of the eleventh session of the legisla-
ture of Idaho was the creation, to-
sether with the sittings and report of
the committee to investigate the Brady
and the Gooding state administrations.
1t was representative Black Of
Occur dAlene city who introduced a
resolution in the house early in the
session to investigate the charges made
during the campaign "by the demo
Gratis" While ON his feet engaged in
fathering this 'scoup,' the representa-
tive placed himself on record as dis
crediting any and all of such charges;
thereby placing himself outside the
list Of those who should have sat as
members Of an inquisitorial body to
Judge between the states former officers
and the states just deserts.
Mr.. Black at once entered into a
struggle for the craftsmanship of the
Joint committee. He had failed to
reckon with enough Of the equations,
however, to become the residuary
legatee of the deeds of his own crea-
tions, He failed to figure that in one
Of the charges made against the for
mer state administrations, a number
of leading saints we're concerned. He
failed to reason that the bishops Of
Fremont county who had leased lands
from the Gooding, then from the
Brady administration; needed man
in the chair who was guided by the
spirit of revelation, not fancied, but
real
Senator Preston Of Oneida possessed
all these qualities. He could be
trusted by the Fremont county bish-
ops only as one who ''spoke in tongues. I"
To serve with representative Black
of kootenai, Speaker Storey appoint
ed Davis Of Oneida, Balbridge of
Canyon, Galloway af Washington and
Hutton of Shoshone.
To serve with Senator Preston of
Oneida, Lieutenant Governor Sweet
steer named Williams of Boise and
Mitchell Of Nez Perce.
The first case called for hearing
was the charge against the Gooding
administration for granting to the
Washington Water Power company
an easement over state school lands
IN kootenai county. Except for a
failure to keep any records Of the
state land department, and a display
OF bad temper by the former chief
executive, the case turned ON a legal
point over which the committee, Of
right, could presume to exercise nc
possible control.
The came on for hearing the Mack.
ay dam case.
Mackay is town located at the
west end Of the Oregon Short Lines
blacktoot branch in the edge of Gus
ter county, just at the mouth of the
big Lost River canyon.
Some two miles above the town q
dam was begun in the summer Of 1910
by the Big Lost River Land and
Water company, a Chicago concern
which had entered into Carey act
contract with the state of Idaho
through its state land board for the
irrigation Of l34, 900 acres Of land in
the valley below, lying on either side
OF the branch line of road above
mentioned.
The testimony adduced by q hal
dozen citizens Of Mackay showed tha'
during the spring and summer d
1910 the residents Mackay became
aapprehensive of the safety of theil
ilves and property because Of th'
faulty construction of the dam, which
was nearing its 3O-foot level.
They communicated their fears t,
,he state engineer, the proper officer
having supervision of the works, witt
no signs Of passing consideration b.
way OF safety. Failing in this the.
enected local organizati lion and calle,