The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1915-12-21

tention of the state land board
that the commissioner is exercis-
ing most extraordinary powers
for an official that is not under
bonds and who has not, it is al
legged, taken an oath Of office.
These facts are, it is assumed.
contained in report made to the
board by the register of the land
Office. The report has not yet
been made public.
The commissioner has exer-
cised extraordinary powers. He
selects the lands to fiji out tho
states congressional grants. lie
iesignates the lands that are to
)e sold. He conducts the sales
and receives the money there
from and turns it into the state
reasury as do other officials col
lecting money on behalf of the
state. He fixes the price when
state lands are leased and col
lects the fees.
As giving some idea Of the bust
ness transacted by the commits
lsioner, the following figures are
submitted: Since the beginning
OF the present year Commission
er Day has sold 1916 acres of
land for S23i,Oi9.S7, on which
S64, 1900 was paid in cash. He
sold 1928 acres Of timber for
S7t,293. He collected from
leases the sum Of S4f,924. The
arceage under lease, now in force.
amounts to i,O49,O72, narly all of
which has been put under lease
since Mr.. Day has held the Office
iof commissioner.
This is a great business and
places the Office Of the state land
commissioner as one of the most
importnat in the state. That he
should be under bond goes with
out saying. It is likewise prob
ably true that the state land board
has given the commissioners Of
flee very little supervision The
commissioner has probably had
a free hand in conducting the ar
fairs Of his office. although. as
matter of fact, every acre select
ed, every acre sold and every lease
executed, is supposed to have had
the direct consideration and ap-
PrOval of the state land board.
This is a prerogative of the land
board if the board cares to as
sumo it. Members Of land boards
have usually found plenty Of land
board business to engross their
attention without looking after
the details assigned to subordin-
ate officers. If they gave direct
attention to the details Of the
commissioners Office in order to
give an intelligent sanction to
each of his acts, they would have
no time to devote to anything else.
II would appear that various
boards under whom Day has serv-
ed have had confidence in him
and have given him a free hand,
exercising only general supervis-
ion and outlining the policy the
Office was to pursue.
Commissioner Day was first ap-
pointed by Governor Gooding and
has held the Office continuously
through the administration Of
. Governor Brady, Governor Haw-
ley, Governor Haines and now un-
der Governor Alexander All
conditions existing in the office
OF the State Land Commissioned
at the present time have exist
ed as they now are under each
Of the above named administra-
tions from Gooding down to
Alexander, except that the busi-
, ness of the department has grown
J enormously.
No charges of misconduct il
the discharge of official dutie.
e are made against the commits
I sioner but the system under
] which the department is conduct.
} ed is held to be weak, and appar
e emily with cause. The presen
hoard are con1idering sucl
J. changes as conditions seem {
- Justify.