The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-25
LYNCH SUBMITS
/ DATA To SENATE
SAYS No Original Loans Have
Been Made to Present Land
Board Members.
CANDLAND HAS LEASE
ON MT. PLEASANT LAND
Secretary Says Contract Was
Executed Before Law to Con-
trary Was Passed.

W. J. Lynch, secretary of the state
land board. Tuesday submitted TO the
ceuate the data requested by that
hoay with reference to certain lands east
Of Mount Pleasant, and also with refer
ence 10 the loans OF the land board 10
us members or to corporations or COM
nauies IN which the members are inter
ested.
The report submitted shows that the
land east of Mount Pleasant, concern
inC which a history was asked. Is now
leased to w. ID. Candland. president OF
the state land board. The report shows
4 that the land was leased to him for graz
has been renewed each year since that
4ime The law making Il unlawful for
T any member of the state land board TO
acquire any public land was passed In
1907. and the contention Is made that as
this lease was secured prior 10 the pass
age OF the law there Is nothing unlawful
connected with the renewal OF the lease
each year.
"A Thain and Steele Loans.
With reference to the loans to the mem
bers OF the board the report shows that
there were loans to ", III. THAN and NJ.
bers OF the board. The secretary says
he has no means of ascertaining whether
or not any OF the other members OF the
board are connected as stockholders with
.
I has loaned money. but that, as for him
self. he is not d stoclSholder in any COM
pany which has received any loans from
the state land board.
The report shows that some time prior
TO his appointment as member OF the
state land board Thain applied for a
loan Of $500. In subsequent applca-
( ZION the loan was increased TO $1,000
! This loan. the REPORT states, is secured
$4,000.
Just prior to his appointment as a
. member of the state land board NJ NJ
Steele was granted a loan of $1,000 for
the NJ. NJ. Steele & Sons company. The
application was granted prior to Mr.,
Steele's appointment and the money
4 transferred TO Mr. Steele about the time
tof his appointment or n little afterward.
This loan is secured by property In Piute
county, according to report, of three times
the value OF the loan.
No Original Loans.
With reference to the loans Of the
land board TO it's members or to compa-
nies In which they are interested, Mr..
Lynch says in his communication:
"ln this connection ! will say that the
records OF the office show that no mem-
Der OF the present land board has ever
applied or received from the board an
original loan while a member of the
board. In MI. Than's case the applica-
tion was made 10 and the money loaned
BY. by former beard prior 10 Mr. Thain
member thereof. In Mr.. Steele's case,
the application was made 10 and the
money loaned by the board immediately
preceding Mr.. Steeie's appointment as n
member of this board.
AS 10 any firms or corpora tions in
which the members OF the board are in
tercsted ever having applied for or bor-
roWed any of the state funds through
The state board of land commissioners.
nave no means OF advising the honorable
senate. as ! do not know what comDa =
nes or firms the members OF the board
may be shareholders in or interested IN
otherwise.
As to Himself
But, speaking OF myself, J will say
that no company In which j am interest
ed, directly or Indirectly, has ever ap-
piled To the stale for the purchase or
lease of any of the state lands. or for
The loan Of any OF the states funds
through the state board of land COM
missioners.
Hoping the foregoing information will
meet the requirements of the honorable
senate on Its resolution No, 5. l beg TO
remain, ve'-- respectfully.
WILLIAM J. LYNCH.
Secretary
After the communication was read. il
was referred. with the attached reports
10 the committee on judiciary Senator
Benner X Smith, chairman of this COM
mlttee. Ia the author OF the resolution
3 which requested the furnishing OF data
OH the subject