Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-27
BECKMANN GIVES REASONS
FOR EMBARRASSMENT VIEW
(From a staff Correspondents

y
LINCOLN, Dec. 26.--(speciai.j-The re-
appraisement OF certain school lands or
dered by democratic members OF the State
Board OF Public Lands and Funds over
the protest Of Land Commissioner Fred
Beckman. the only republican member
OF the board, will cost the state N.s0o
In the next five years. according to Mr..
Beclmann, who has steadily fought the re-
appraisement idea.
Mr.. Beckmann asserts that the appraise-
raent is unfair and not legal. He asserts
that the board has placed the re-assess-
ment OF the lands in the hands OF the
Howard county Board OF Commissioners,
which has alerady taken a stand on the
matter In favor OF a reduction. In ex-
planning his stand ON the matter Mr..
Becl<mann says:
vote against the reappraisal OF school
lands In Howard county. reduction OF
present county hoard and others. and as
the majority OF the Board OF Educational
Lands and Funds voted that the present
appraissment the prospects, are that. a
- reduction per acre VIII be made, which
@ san viii SoS so S Tor five Years
a will be oss to the school FUND or
H.sO4.ac. and It Is my opinion that reap
praisement win be Illegal for the follow
The record win show tat on November
g. 1918 Howard county school lands were
january 4, 1904 The record also will
show that on March q 1914. on motion
OF Attorney General Martin, member
OF the Board OF Educational lands and
funds, which carried unanimously, an
appraisement OF school lands for leasing
purposes was ordered In Howard county.
In pursuance OF this order the comm 8.
sioners OF Howard county were instructed
70 reappraise the school land for leasing
In june. 1914 the county board Of
Howard county sent their appraisement
10 the Board Of Educational lands and
funds. ,. e report shows that the county
beard 70 - the oath as prescribed by law
Before they made the appraisement. See
report on file IN office Of commissioner OF
public lands and BUILDINGS
On July H. 1914, the following motion,
made by Beckmafn. comm eeioner OF
public lands and buildings. a member OF
the Board OF Educational lands and funds,
sSt sne q r. school land rSs
IN Howard Keya Paha and Knox ooun-
ties was approved unanimously.
On June -, 1915, pc ition was rresente
funds claiming that the school land in
Toward county AZ appraised by the
After q reading Of the petition. the
board voted tat Commissioner Bockmann
ook ~ peRs s .tsr snS Gsser barrett
bar 49, 1915, record G. page s1i the fol.
lowing Sppears on the record:
Inc >N.alion signed by the county COM
miseicners OF Howard county, asking a
reduction OF s. per acre in the valuation
Of the appraisement OF school land OF
Howard county. being before the board
after q general discussion, the hoard de-
ciined 10 take up the matter OF disturb
ing the appraisement.
also contend that the present board
OF county commissioners OF Howard
county u estopped from acting as apprals-
era Of this school land as Il can be shS-sn
that on September 2 1915, they signed a
petition asking the board OF educational
lands and funds for so per cent reduc-
ton Of the appreisement as made by the
former board IN June. 1914, which was APP
proved by the board ofeduchtlonal lands
ana funds July IA, t9lA The law provides
that the board Of educational lands and
funds may. during the year 1883, and
every five years thereafter. provide foi
Statutes 1913, chapter 1851. page 1928
Last week a delegation OF Howard
cunty men came 10 the state house and
after conferences with members Of this
board meeting had and the order wa
made over the protest OF the land com
missioner that the reappraisement b,
made. Mr.. Becknann is very indignan
over what he calls a hand-handed metho'
of doing things after the board had al
ready approved the report OF imseif an
Deputy Attorney General Barrett.