The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1915-06-01

won her big land contest at
Washington was the word FROM
the National Capitol last Tuesday
brought by Judge Il. c.. Finney of
the Interior Department. The
acreage involved amounts to over
100000 acres and the value is
incstimable, much of it being rich
timber land. 1t is worth at least
lSlO,00O,0OO and the state may re
alize S2O,OOO,OOO for future sales.
The decision has not been pro-
Imulgated yet but it has been writ
ten and passed upon and waits
the return of Secretary Lane to
become effective.
Tn controversy involved grew
out of the grant of the Federal
government to the State of Ida
no of Sections rs and 36. The
safe lost thousands of acres of
these lands by reason of settlers
going upon them before the sur
vey and finally securing patent
from the government The state
lost a still greater acreage when
the Forest Reserve policy was
inauguraled. pinchors policy
tied up the state lands as we'll as
lhc public lands. I'm order to
secure reimbursement lhes tate
claimed the right TO select other
lands in plac Of the lands patent
to The settlers and to exchange its
lands tied up i'm Forest Reserves
for other land. Pinchot denied
this right of the state and the
controversy has been or for many
years. The Hawlcy Nc Dougall
Clifford Sheperd Taylor land
board took the question up direct
with President Taft who acknow-
lodged the jusinoss of IdahO's
claim and declared that Uncle
Sam would no longer play Iniun
with the people of Idaho. An
agreement was entered into with
President Taft and Idaho officials
whereby The state might select i'm
lieu lands To the amount of its
/ losses. This necessitated ex-
tensive detail work before the ex-
chang could be made, and il was
impossible TO effect the arrange
ment before the administration oil
President Taft ended. New COM
plicalions arose and legal issues
were sprung, so Idaho has not
yet come into its own.
Fortunately for Idaho Judge
Finney was a friend at court. and
has been i'm position of influence
He is a member of the Board oi
| Appeals of The Interior Depart
ment. The Idaho case came be-
fore this board. The Judge was
thoroughly familiar with the Ida.
no case having been employed al
one time by the state to look after
these very matters.
It was not in connection with
this case. however, that Judge
Finney made his recent visit o.
Idaho. He is close to Secretary
Lane and is visiting the govern
ors of western states to sound
thm out upon legilation that the
Secreary is contemplating with
reference to coal oil, and phos-
phate alnds. The proposition is
90 lease such lands on a rnyally
basis. half the revenue TO go in
TO the Reclamation fund. HC
called upon Governor Alexander
while here to pluace the matter
before him.
Judge Finney was the guest Of
Attorney General Peterson ano
State Land Commissioner DAY
while nj Boise. the two state Of
hcials having become acquainted
with him while i'm Washington
on land BUSINESS.
Speaking of the effect of tn,
decision giving Idaho the land.
claimed Mr. Peterson and Mr.
/ Day both commented upon iti
for reaching effect. Commits
sioner Day stated that there wer
now on file in hrs Office applica
tions TO purchase timber to tn