The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-09-03
THE STATE LAND BOARD
REMOVED n. JENNESS
As REGISTER
DISMISSAL RESULT OF LACK
OF HARMONY IN OFFICE
EXTENDING OVER SEW
ERAL MONTHS.
Heber o. Hale . is in Temporary
Charge of OHice-Register May Be
Done Away With Entirely-Treas-
urer Retains Possession of Securi-
ties for Present.
Especial to Caldwell Tribune,

Especial to Caldwell Tribune.)
Boise, Ida, Sept. 1.-The political
monotony of the state house was
broken today by the action of the
state board of land commissioners in
declaring the Office of register of the
board vacant, the order to take effect
on Saturday of this week. Ned Jen-
ness of Nampa is the register and his
tenure of Office will end with the last
day of this week Mr.. Jenness has
served in his present capacity for the
past six years. He was first appoint
ed under the Brady administration
and continued to serve through the
Hawley, Haines and Alexander ad-
ministrations to the present time.
The dismissal of Jenness was not
unexpected as there have been ru-
mors that there was to be a change
for some months. Report had it that
Jenness was to be retired to make
room for former Secretary of State
Clifford, but the action of the board
today did not carry with it Mr.. Gift
ford's appointment. On the contrary,
Chief Clerk Heber Q. Hale was desig-
mated as acting register, until such
time as the board shall decide upon
successor to Mr.. Jenness. There is
said to be desire among the members
of the board to appoint Mr.. Clifford,
not only on account of personal
friendship, but because of his COM
potency, but there have been protests
against Gifford's appointment, and
what action the board will finally
take is difficult to forecast.
Ned Jenness, the retiring register,
is editor and proprietor of the Nam
pa Leader Herald, to which he will
devote his undivided attention after
retiring from the Office.
The action of the board was un-
animous, Lieutenant Governor Taylor
sitting as chairman of the board. The
deposed official was first made
acquainted with the fact that the
board desired to dispense with his
services and he was informed that if
ne preferred he might tender his re-
sgnation. The register replied that
he was there to take the minutes of
any action the board desired to take,
and the order declaring the Office va
cant followed. The motion was made
by Attorney General Peterson and
seconded by State Auditor Huston.
There IS said to have been friction
between the register and the members
OF the board for some time. 1t first
grew out of the transfer of certain Sc
curities from the Office of the regis
ter to the Office of the State Treas
urer.. This was a recommendation
hrst made by Governor Haines who
pointed out that there were several
million dollars worth of securities
held in the registers Office that in his
judgment ought to be in the custody
OF an othcer giving a heavier bond.
Governor Alexander came into office
with similar recommendation and
the legislature authorized the transfer.
state Treasurer Eagleston has had
several clerks checking these securi-
ties, their pay being taken from the
appropriation for the support of the
land department. Jenness has claim
ed that this work has been unneces-
sarliy expensive and long drawn out,
"hile the members of the land board
expected that the register would be
aOie to reduce his clerical force after
beng relieved of the care and atten-
tion OF the securities. Friction devel-
oped which eliminated in the action
taken today, which one way has re-
TERED to as raising Nedp
" NCCdAn 0GCuE1OGSs
ne land board at its meeting dis
missing Register Jenness today de-
liberated upon the question of return
ing the school bonds and other securi-
ueS OF the state land department back
10 the custody of the register of the
board Secretary Of State Barker
made motion to that effect and was
supported by Miss Mccoy, Superin-
ICnUenf n Al.
moion was lost, General Peterson,
Auaitor Huston and Governor Taylor
Young against 1t. Secretary Barker
urged that the system was not only
expensive but impracticable. He said
''tdt as the records were in the Office
OF me register. the business of collect
,hH inc interest and the coupons, and
Tue handling of the states land sale
.pn'r9cts could be better handled by
inc register, while their safety could
DC guarded it necessary by raising the
nohd OF the register. He was opposed
20 me needless expense OF duplicat-
,i9 me work in two departments. Gov
tlhor taylor stated that he had not
aalniliarized himself with the question
ana suggested that it be allowed to
H. over tor the present. to which
.ttuSton and Peterson agreed and so
the motion was lost
When the same question was up
Lor consideration short time ago,
Governor Alexander favored keeping
Inc inc securities in the treasurer's Office.
out 1t Is quite likely that in the in
.ereSt OF economy they will go back
70 the land Office, especially in view
8I the impracticability of carrying
.nese records in two distinct depart