Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-18
SHUMWAY Tells
HIS VIEWS UPON
SCHOOL LANDS
Believes the Law Should Be
Amended to Provide Min.
imum Sum Per Acre for
Lease Privilege.
From a Staff Correspondent.

Lincoln, Aug. T.-(Special)-
Lard Commissioner Shumway Satur-
| day gave out the following state
ment:
THAT legislative candidates may
] consider them, l am preparing a few
| amendments to the laws relating to
kthe appraiscment OF school lands. and
the distribution of revenues.
~, has been suggested heretofore
that the state board should have the
direction by statute, if it does not
Talready exist under the constitution,
( 10 eoualize appraisements il they are
L found to be out Of proportion to the
/ true value OF the land or unequal be-
tween counties. Courts have already
decreed this power exists, but the
sprocess is indefinite. 1t, should be
| made clear. The state board should
/ also be directed TO appfaise counties
where the county boards refuse or
neglect the duty when ordered. =,
Each tract of school land should
be mapped, showing character OF soil.
WATERWAYS or lakes, hills. valleys. ia
Iblelands timber, native hay, culti-
yated areas, roads, improvements,
sand with a statement showing what
ii is best suited for. and enything that
any owner would reasonably want
10 know about farm that belonged
10 him. So.
Need Lease Minimum.
Presidents upon schoo, lands, who
kave substantial improvements there,
in. who make such showing, should
Be entitled to a reduction OF | per
cent in the interest rate, under regula..
Cons which will protect the actual
settlers.
1.-THE constitution provides a mini
mum price Of 81 per acre where
hhool lands are sold. There should
a|so be a minimum fixed for leasing
Arposes OF | would say 81 per acre,
int | have not fixed idea as to. that
value. And anyone refusing to lease
al the fixed minimum, who shall con-
finue TO use the land by letting stock
run over and pasture it, or who cuts
HAY from it, or otherwise appro'
tpriatcs il TO his own use, should be
Nheld for the rental, and it should be
scollectable by law.
Free Bidding at Sale.
.The use OF state lands should be
confined to actual citizens Of the
fstate ~ far az possible, and any
owner OF a lease who shall live in. or
Remove to another state should be
subject to state courts and the ]uris'
diction thereof in any and all ques'
lions relating to state lands. Some
1easeholders in the potash section
threaten federal court as a final re-
sort to plunder the state of this val
uable mineral. sM
Il am against the selling OF any
bf the state lands, but If such lands
are to be sold, or any part thereof,
free and open bidding should be the
rule.
twenty per cent of the rentals
Received from school lands should go
10 the several counties in proportion
no Tic SCIlOul idiiu dtiSdisS AIN NoAa
atoms of all the counties, to be di-
fided to the several districts OF each
county iil proportion to the acreage
and valuations Of the school lands o'
such district.
"The legislative reference burea,
md others have found this percent
xge, and the process of its distribu
ton, to be a just aud proper return
to, the counties and districts from
which II is received in order to bal
ance local losses in taxation where
The lands are not decided and tax
able.
FL urge legislative candidates t.
sfialyze these questions and to CO
operate with. this department in th'
Preparation Of a suitable measure I,
bring into effect policy that will
best serve the state, the schools. TIL
school children and the public