The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-16
As Witness in Own Defense, He
Tries to Excuse Boards
Acts.
DAY ADMITS HIS ACTS
LOST THE STATE MONEY
Former Governor Greatly En-
barrassed When Records
Are Submitted.
Special to the Tribune

BOISE Ida, Feb. 15.-The legislative
committee investigating the Brady state
land boards connection with the Fire.
, mont county land leases met this even
| ing and the secretary OF the committee
read first the charges that were made
against Governor Brady during the last
state campaign.
| Ex- Governor Brady, eX-Secretary OF
State Lansdon. superintendent Of
Schools Chamberlain and Attorney Cen
eral McDougall were present. Tho en-
| barrassment on the part OF Governor
| Brady and Robert Lansdon was apparent.
| The clerk OF the committee then pro-
ceeded TO the reading of certain letters
| from Fremont county citizens alleging
| favoritism on the part of the Brady land
| board in the leasing OF certain Fremont
| county lands.
General McDougau argued that the
| Lansdon charges against Brady were i'm
material and frivolous.
| Committeeman Williams made a pub
| lie statement 10 the effect that the house
| secret sessions, He added that as far
as he was concerned the meetings OF the
| committee hereafter would be open and
| that no more executive sessions would
| be held.
Governor Brady offered to make a
| statement and Committeeman Galloway
| objected and called the committees at
tention to the tacit agreement made last
evening that the letters should be read
Held to Agreement.
The committee decided that the agree
| ment was made and thereupon Lansdon
objected, This brought out the fact that
| the committee had absolutely agreed to
| the reading OF the Fremont county let
| ters TO some man In Boise whose name
response from Galloway that he had
given his word Of honor that the name Of
the man to whom these letters were writ
ten should be kept secret and that this
n Ia ~ hf
mittee. Brady offered his protest to the
letters and so did McDougall and Lans-
don.
Galloway explained that he only hoped
by this plan to avoid the expense OF
bringing here the men from Fremont
| county who signed the letters to the
man whose name was to be withheld.
Miss Chamberlain thereupon offered her
protest
of the letters unless the name of the
man to whom the letters were written
should be divulged Secretary Galloway
gave Governor Brady the names and ad-
S. NJ. Maupin OF Teton and II. J. Clark
Of Teton in Fremont county,
The chair held that II the defendants
objected the letters need not be read.
Then the chairman swore George A. Day,
the state land solicitor
Day Explains Leases.
Day. stated that he assumed full re-
sponsibilty for the making of the Fre-
Four sheep companies Of Fremont
county.
This land comprising 10000 acres irr
Fremont county, was selected by him in
1905 and leased for five years. cut into
four divisions. each tract having water
ing place.
These Big Four companies consisted
of the Woodmansee. Webster, Wood
| Livestock company and Johnston & Sew
erson. Over 1000 acres of agricultural
lands were cut out and left for leasing
for dry farming. but these were not APP
piled for
This land was released December TO-
previous day l went through the list OF
applicants and found 1000 acres applied
for" he added. "and when the board
acres. Then came deluge OF applicants
VIC never considered any applications
Ga"d @ii January yyniI.a On this date found
cants wanted the same land.'
Tells Of Arbitration.
Then he took up the Clark letter.
Mark Austin applied on December II
for 100 acres of land" he SAID.
land. Austin Insisted on this particular
land and ] agreed with him that he was
prior applicant under the law. I was
tion. ! met Clark in st. Anthony and as
sured him I would have TO put up the
land at auction and he told me then
1t and II Day would send back his money
and application he would retire from the
"clark's application did slip through
by error in our office and his lease was
issued by error and ! recalled It. Mr.
Clark withdrew and Mark Austin got
the lease"
Committeeman Hutton asked why he
engaged in this arbitration movement
when the state would get more money
BY selling. the lease privilege to tho
highest bidder?
Day admitted the error and acknowl-
edged that II was against the financial
he had sold a lease privilege in Wash
ington county at auction for 80 cents an
acre,
Senator Mitchell asked If land in Ere
1910 than in 1905 when the land was
first leased. Day answered IT was not
The lease of this land to the Big Four
was made December 10.
Record of May 13.
Upon query of Mitchell. Day testified
that on May IL, 1909, j. w Webster
appeared before the board and the board
stipulated with him that they should have
their land for another five years at seven
and a half cents per acre. He then
read the record of May 49, all members
OF the board being present.
'Why was that order made at that
tme2'f asked Mitchell.
''It was intended as information to the
lessee" said Brady
THAT was notice to the public that the
lands we're released. was It not7" asked
Mitchell. to which Day responded. Yes,
1t was public record. all right"
Were there any business relations ex-
listing between you and the Austin broth
ers, Mr.. Day." asked Mitchell
Not now answered Day.
Asked as to the politics, he stated that
most OF the lessees were Republicans.
ar have been told that some of tboeo