Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-03-21
A CAREY ACT COMMISSION.


to pass judgement, and while we
are in the amendment business, we
would like to suggest another that
perhaps will meet the approval Of
a large number of the residents of
the state, and especially the settlers
ON Carey act lands. At the present
time the entire control of these
lands is vested in land board com
posed of the Governor, Secretary of
State, State Auditor, Supernten-
dant of Public instruction and At
torney General. All matters per-
tanning to questions in dispute be-
tween the settlers and the various
irrigating companies throughout the
state come before them for final adj
Indication, contracts for new scgre
cations are made through this board
and in fact every little incident con-
netted with these lands comes he
fore them for final adjustment. No
little time il spent 10y the board III
patiently listening to the appeals OF
the companies and the settlers To
the neglect Of other important duties
connected with their respective
offices.
With no criticism AT all directed
to members of the board it is "A well
known fact that the duties incum-
bent upon the chief executive Of Il
state are of sufficient Importance to
demand large per cent of his time
and attention, and the same rule
would apply to all the other officer
Of the state, and with these duties
carefully looked after they have not
the time to devote toquestiun- com
ing before them ~ a land board
that many of them demand. ~
We stated ah"ve, they patiently lis
ten tn the appeals from hoth -idr.
hut not having the time To person
ally visit the various. sections, the,
are not familiar with the true con
ditions, and it is not unfrequentl,
that a case is decided adversely L
what il would have been had th
members of the board been person
ally cognizant of the conditions, -
had the time at their disposal nI
make a personal investigation uf th
matter. 1t is no disparagcmcnt {
the board to state that only recent
some matters were brought to thei
attention from this tract that the
pleaded ignorance Of, and il Is likcl
that representatives from othc
tracts have had the same eXpcr
ence. Like jury, the board
often swayed 10y the eloquent N
pcalS of some eminent attorney ;
the expense Of the common settle
And again, the members compo
ing this board have been placed
office through the efforts of a polit
cal party, and il would not hc su
prising il at times some prcssu
was brought to bear upon ccrta
members, that had an influence
deciding some of the question
brought before them,
These and other reasons ha
brought forth the suggestion for
Carey Act, or Land Commission,
he selected regardless of polite
and with no other duties than
attend To matters connected wi
the land department of the stat
This Commission could he invc
ed with the same powers as are p'
scssed by the land board as M
constituted, and with no otl
duties to perform they would ha
ample time to personally invcstigi
every important question broug
before them and should he famil
with the conditions as they exist
every project, and consequently
position to decide the question
telligently without the advice
attorney or settler.
We may he wrong in our sugg
tion, hut it has been inspired
discussions we have listened to
the matter, and we should be &
to hear from others who have |
more experience with Carey
nrnnnsitinns ihnn ,un hnNn A.