Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1919-04-01
will go down into history as one of
the great constructive measures of
the government"
GOVERNOR APPOINTED
LAND COMMISSION

Governor Olcott has announced
the appointment of Oregon land set
tlement commission created by the
last legislature. The act providing
for the commission carried an emer-
gency clause, so the commission as
now appointed may Immediately in
corporate and proceed with its work.
Contrary to expectation no members
of the recent legislature were named
on the board. The membeds OF the
commission are:
Emery Olmstead, Portland. presl-
dent of the Northwestern National
bank.
Robert N. Stanfleld, Stanfield,
prominent farmer, stockman and cap
italist of Eastern Oregon.
Whitney L. Boise, Portland, yir-
tually father of the land settlement
act, and prominent in affairs of Port
land and the Willamette valley.
G. H. Baker, Bend, secretary of
the Central Labor council of that
city, and indorsed by leaders of the
State Federation of Labor.
Charles Hall, Marshfield, president
of the Bank of Southwestern Oregon
and Of the Coos & Curry Telephone
company, and prominently identified
with varied activities in Southern
Oregon.
The tenure of office of the ap-
pointees will sbe as follows: Emery
Olmstead, to January /, 1928, four
years; Whitney L. Boise, to January
l, 1920, one year; Robert N. STAN
field, to January 1, 1920. one year;
G. II. Baker, to January /. 1921, two
years; Charles Hall, to January l,
1922, three years.
An appropriation of $4,000 Is
made by the act creating the commits
sion, which further provides that;
after five members have been ap-
pointed and have organized, they
may incorporate under the laws of
the state. The corporation may is
sue bonds when 1t deems necessary.
but not in excess of the net assets of
the corporation, the bonds to be bind
ing upon the corporation, but not an
obligation against the state.
Altho the act itself provides for
an appropriation of only $4,000. an
additional s647,500 VII be available
for the commission II the electorate
passes favorably upon the IS, ,000, 900
reconstruction measure at the special
election on June 3, the reconstruc-
tion bill specifically providing that
this sum may be devoted to the land
settlement work. and the money will
be used in cooperation with the fed
eral government.
Power is granted to the new COM
mission to acquire real property by
purchase or gift, and to improve,
lease, sell or otherwise dispose OF
land. Further, it is empowered to
acquire real property thru exercise
of the right of eminent domain.
Soldiers and sailors are to have.
preference under the act, and 1t is
contemplated that the commission CO.
operate fully with the federal gov
qrnment for land settlement pur-
poses. One OF the commissions func-
tions is agricultural training of pros
pective settlers.
"The selection of the personnel Of
this board was made only after days
of consideration and after confer
ences with friends Of the measure"
said Governor Olcott, in making pub
lie the names of members. 1T be-
came apparent to me, early in my
consideration of the act. that with
but five members on the board 1t
would be impossible to see that all
interests were directly represented
and obviously it became necessary
to exert every effort in covering the
field as broadly as the limited size
OF the commission would allow
Aside from the numerous interests
involved, the geographical considera-
tions had to be given careful atten-
tion as a matter Of justice to all the
state.
Land settlement legislation is in
an experimental stage, particularly
in this state, and as result the sue
cess or failure of 1t will depend large