The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1913-08-29
using STATE LAND
But NOT PAYING Up
$25O,OOO Back Payments Due State
All Who Can Must Pay

For the past four or five years the
State Of Washington has been playing
the part of a good natured, easy going
and somewhat credulous landlord with
regard to the broad acres OF school and
granted lands within its boundaries.
The result is that it is facing the prob
lem of collecting about $242, OOO.OO
in delinquent payments and oustlng
undesirable tenants from lands which
should be, but are not now, source
of revenue. This $242, 100000 repre-
sents delinquent principal and interest
on state land contracts and rentals on
expired leases where lessees have
failed to renew and are occupying and
using the lands.
State Land Commissioner Clark V.
Savidge has boldly attacked this prob
lem Notwithstanding the fact that he
has no special fund to cover expenses
of inspection and collection. At the
last session Of the Legislature the State
Bureau of Inspection asked for an ap-
preparation of $50, 100000 to check up
the accounts in the state land Office.
They failed to get it but Land Com
missioner Savidge decided to check up
the accounts himself with his limited
appropriation and this work of collect
ing these delinquent payments is the
first step. Special attention is being
given at this time to the eastern part
of the state as the harvest season is on
and indications are that crops are
abundant and prospects for collections
good. In many cases five year lease
has expired and the lessee has failed
to renew for some reason not shown.
Perhaps the rate of rental for, the new
term was too high; perhaps the lessee
just didn't pay because the state as
landlord is so often an easy mark"
and there was apparently nothing to
prevent his remaining in possession of
the land and his Improvements, har-
vesting his crops, pasturing his cattle
and maintaining himself at the states
expense. However, conditions are
changing and the day of reckoning is
at hand. Accordingly, each state land
inspector, in addition to his regular
work OF examining lands, is handed
list of names OF those lessees or con-
tract holders whose payments are over
due, and is instructed to investigate
each case separately and ascertain just
what use has been made of the land,
what crops were raised and what prices
received and, when demand is made
for payments, the lessee or contract
holder is usually willing to come
through" Up to date, the collect
ions have averaged about 100000
per month, since Commissioner Say
idge commenced this work. In one
case the sum of $1,000 was collected
from one individual as payment of back
rental for the use Of state lands after
his lease had expired.
No attempt is being made to deal
harshly with or to make an example of
any tenant or purchaser of state lands,
so long as he indicates an intention to
deal squarely with the state. Com
missioner Savidge is playing no favo-
rites but is treating all alike. AS one
man remarked when demand was
made to pay for unauthorized use and
occupancy of state lands for several
years, oh, well, if they all have to
do it, Pm willing" Where farmer
is struggling along under adverse con-
ditions, leniency is shown in the mat
ter Of adjusting the payments to suit
existing circumstances and in extend
ing the time to make the payments.
But Commissioner Savidge is making
it plain that one and all must pay.