The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1916-12-28
State Treasurer j. w. Eagle
son Addresses Commits
sioners Meeting.
ASK new COMMISSION
Applications for Farm Loans
Should Be Made Through
County Boards.

State Treasurer John W. Eagleson in
an address before the eighth annual
convention of the County Commission
ers association of the state held last
week at Boise, presented a feasible
solution of the veXed question of how
to dispose of our present cumbersome
and unsatisfactory state land board by
substituting therefor bipartisan
board of land commissioners appointed
by the governor. Mr.. Eagleson, who
is admittedly one of the most popular
state officials Idaho has ever had,
shows that he has given this import
ant subject considerable study, as he
has other matters pertaining to the
states interests. His views on the
necessary change in the personnel of
the state land board is in exact accord
with that of Republican State Chair
man Evan Evans, of Grangeville. Mr..
Evans, before the platform conven-
tions and all during last fall insisted
that the present land system be done
away with, and a nonpartiSan commits
sion should be appointed whose busi-
ness it was to attend solely to the ad-
miniStration of the states landed in
terests, and that this commission
should be appointed by and answer
able to the governor, thus supplying a
single responsible head to make ac-
counting to the taxpayers of the
state. Mr. Evans, it will be remem-
bered, urged this change before the
primary election asking that the mat
! ter be handled by the platform con-
ventions of both parties and that a
constitutional amendment be submit
ted to the voters Of TIE state for their
rnfifi0Q hn
perience with some of the land board
matters, Mr.. Evans knew whereof h
spoke when he took the position that
1t was an imperative duty that the
land board system be changed. He
was farsighted enough to look into
the future and discern the needed
change, and his wisdom in this mat
ter is now being justified by the in
dorsement of number of the lead
ing citizens of the state who have
since taken up the matter and are
championing its cause. Mr.. Eagle
son, in his address said:
when Idaho was admitted as a
state" he said, "the federal govern
ment gave us approximately 5000, 900
acres of land (700,O00 acres of which
Is covered with merchantable timber)
as an endowment for our schools, col
leges, charitable and penal institu-
tions and the capitol building. Sena-
tor Brady has recently introduced a
bill donating 100000 acres more of
land to Idaho for public roads.
Less than one-sixth of our endow-
ment lands have been sold and have
yielded over $S,000,000 which is in
vested in school bonds, sale contracts
and farm mortgages bearing an aver
age of per cent interest. 1t is con-
servatively estimated that our endow-
ment lands will yield ultimatly a
fund Of more than $100,OOO,OOO.
THE first consideration in handling
these funds is the absolute safety of
the various funds. The next impor-
tant thought is quick acting, afficient
service in order that the funds can
be kept at work all the time and in
the most beneficial manner With
these two thoughts in mind, anyone
at all familiar with banking methods
and Idaho's patched up land and loaI
laws, will truly wonder how 1t is that
the funds have been so well pre-
served
New Commission Needed.
mo doubt the land board was the
best institution that could be created
Tor the purpose i'll the beginning o1
statehood, but the governor, secretary
of state, attorney general, state audi
tor and superintendent of public in
struction now have all the duties thai
should be imposed on any officia
within their own offices and the,
should not be burdened by this fas
growing department.
"All counties of the state must b,
propOrtionately considered in tn,
making of loans and the vast 500,
100000 resources in lands and timbe
must be sold to the utmost advantage
ITO do this properly non-partisaI
board of land commissioners com
posed of three members chosen 70
their fitness and experience alon
these lines should be appointed by tn
governor, subject to the approval o
the senate. The term of offic
should be six years, one commissions
TO retire each two years with provis
ION Tor removal by the governors fl
ing charges and a hearing had befor
the supreme court
Applications Through Counties.
Applications for farm loans shoul