Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-09-16
w. 6. Hinterman, WaIlOwa

county; W. C. Hinterman, Wallowa
county.
The following resolution will be sub
mitted by the Farmers Union, the
State Grange and the State Federation
of Labor, jointly:
Be it Resolved, That this conference
recommend that trusteeship of the lands
under consideration be reposed in tho
state of Oregon with authority to sell
to actual settlers at prices consistent
with its reasonable value;
That as sales are made sum of not
to exceed $3.50 an acre be paid TO the
railroad company and the remainder be
paid into the irreducible school fund
Of the state or oregon;
That said fund be available for loans
to settlers upon said lands on terms
similar to those made upon lands under
the reclamation act whereby twenty
years time is given at easy annual pay
ments, or upon such other terms as will
lend all possible assistance in the de-
velopment of homes upon, and success
full purchase of, said lands by said ac-
tual settlers.
In his speech this afternoon ex-Gov-
ernor Oswald West summed up the sit
uation as follows:
"In view of these existing circum-
stances and conditions deem II good
business and for our best interest that
the state offer to take over the grant
and reimburse the railroad company.
Such u program would be greatly SIM
plified II congress could BIO induced to
advance the funds necessary TO satisfy
the claims of the railroad and await
repayment until the state could secure
the funds through the negotiation OF
timber sales.
off, however congress should be
found unwilling to advance tho funds
it would, in view of our constitutional
restrictions as to state Indebtedness,
devolve upon the trends of such a
movement to devise means for financing
the undertaking.
II would suggest that this might be
done, through the organization of
holding company to consist Of the gov
ernor, secretary of state, state treasur-
er, attorney general, representative
Of our farmer organizations, a repre-
sentative Of our labor organizations.
and u representative Of our commercial
organizations.
"This holding company could, with
| the consent Of congress, take over the
grant, and after pledging 1t for secur-
| ity for the funds necessary to satisfy
the claims of the railroad company,
deed the lands to the state for the
benefit of the school fund.
"The grant, of course, would be TAX
en- over by the state subject to the
mortgage Indebtedness which could be
| cleared in due time through the sales
of timber Under state ownership the
control Of the grant would pass to the
| state land board, and NJ II could un-
/ doubtedly be handled with little or no
| increase in force in that department the
cost of administration would be reduced
to the minimum,
''If such a plan should be followed
and the state come into the ownership
Of the grant the non'timbered lands
I Fit for settlement snould be thrown
open to entry at once to bona fide
settlers at little or no cost. Such non
timbered tracts as were found untit for
settlement should be held by the state
with view Of reforestation.
"The timber on the timbered lands
should be appraised and in due time
sold in suitable sized tracts to highest
bidders and on condition that IL be re-
moved within certain period. As fast
as the timber was removed from tract
of land it should IL suitable for such
purposes, be thrown open to settlement.
Lands unfit for settlement from which
the timber had been removed should be
held for the purpose Of reforestation.
"In the consideration Of the con
tentions Of the railroad company We
should keep in mind that the court u
enioining further sales Of the lands hat
this to say Of past Illegal sales'
a. In view Of the disregard Of The
covenants, and gain of Illegal emolu
ments, and in view OF the government
interest in the exact observance o
them it might seem that restriction
, upon the future conduct Of the railroad
I company and its various agencies i
imperfect relief; but the governmen
has not asked for more.
. at also suid
o nf This suit WAS Drought II Is al
@ legged 10 determine the rights and rem
edies as TO the unsold lands and tina
= subsequently other suits will he insti
/, tuted as TO the sold lands, rights am
I remedies as to them being In effect ~
L served. Therefore, the decree in thi
9 suit shall he without prejudice to an,
j. other suits, rights or remedies in whie
J. the government may have by law
f.l ffTu onotvziny the clnimp Of the raj