The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1916-06-29
FOR APPOINTIyE BOARD.
Evan Evans FavOrs Constitutional
Amendment.

Evan Evans, state chairman of the
republican party in Idaho, favors an
amendment to the state constitution
providing that the state land board
snail comprise commission appoint
ed by the governor, says the Lewiston
Tribune. He passed through the city
enroute to Boise, where he goes to the
committee headquarters and to be
present at the state platform conven-
ton which will be held Tuesday, June
81.
Il hope" said Mr.. Evans, discussing
the state land board subject, that
all political parties this year will place
III their platforms a plank pledging
these parties and their legislative can
didateS to submission of q constitu-
ttonal amendment to the people pro-
viding for a commission to handle the
state land matters, such q commission
to be non-partisan, appointed by the
governor. / firmly believe that the
people by an overwhelming vote will
approve such an amendment and es-
pecially after they have given study
to the subject.
I'm this comment / am not reflect
ing on the present land board nor up
on any previous board. l am simply
opposed to the present system, which
Is inadequate, cumbersome and def
cient in meeting the large, almost sa-
cred, responsibilities imposed upon it
in the proper handling and care of the
great wealth of lands, largely the pro-
perty of the school children of the
state.
Under present conditions the con-
Stitution defines who shall constitute
the land board. Those designated are
the governor, the secretary of state,
the attorney general, the state audit
or and the superintendent of public
instruction. 1t essentially follows that
these officers are elected with regard
to their special fitness for the specific
duties of the Office designated, with
only secondary consideration as to
their fitness for land board work.
Further than that, the main duties of
the respective offices named demand,
IL properly done, the entire attention
OF these officers. AS a result of the
present system we find the land board
matters-representin responsibilities
larger than those entailed by any cor
poration in the state-to be directed
by the necessarily transient attention
that these five officers might find
periodical time to give them. l do
not care how able a member of the
land board may be, he cannot give
that attention to this important work
that should be given unless he ne
elects other official duties which
should demand his time.
'The land board of Idaho should be
comprised of men charged solely with
the responsibility of handling its vast
ly important work and until that step
is taken, the state will suffer. l know
that the people might at first sug-
gestion hesitate to approve the crea-
ton of another commission in Idaho,
but it is my sincere conviction that
this land board commission should be
authorized, even if it proves necessary
to abolish every other commission III
the state. Only chaos and inefficiency
can result from the present plan.
This is a question that should not
be tainted by the odor of politics. We
should all join as citizens in working
out this reform. / am going to do
my best in support of any such move
ment and do most earnestly hope the
subject will be given full, careful and
earnest consideration at all the party
conventions"