The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1920-12-17
RIRIE WOULD Do AWAY
WITH STATE LAND
BOARD
CARBON COAL SITUATION is
GONE INTO.
Two Rival Auditors Create Merry
Tempest In Teapost At State Capt.
tai Recently-B. T. Olson, Former
Resident Of Price, At Daggers
Points With Others over Reports.

Joseph Ririe, state auditor, would
like to see the state land board abol-
ishcd This is the substance OF re-
concentrations that he makes in a
report to the legislature. which is
to be printed. and OF which advance
information was given out at the
state capital a few days ago.
Riric's differences OF opinion with
the land board. leading at times to ac-
ton before the supreme court. which
differed with him in It's Interpretation
OF the law and the rights in the mat
ter. have long been known. There
has never been such an open strain
on the relations between Ririe and the
state board OF equalization, though
Il has been known at times that the
two departments were not exactly
working hand and glove" In his
report however, Riric declares that
he Is actuatcd by motives that arc not
caused by personal animosity. nor by
desire to discredit the work OF any
department He would substitute for
the two state boards commissions Of
one man, who would have power to
employ such expert and other help
as should be required 10 carry on du-
ties now assigned 70 the boards.
The report by Ririe also contains
lengthy statement from f.. r. Olson,
who. Il Is disclosed. is now on the
pay roll OF Ririe's office. This state
mcnt refers to the coal land situation
IN Carbon county. and once more
brings up before the public the we'll
known fact that large holdings OF
coal lands were acquired by compan-
les from men who entered them as
grazing lands and who have some
times been accused OF being dunn
my cntrymeu for the coal companies.
The United States government in
vesiigated these entries some time
ago.
Publication OF some Of the state
mcnis made In the lengthy report
credited to Olson has brought to light
the fact that two rival auditors have
created merry tempest In a teapot
a. the state capitol lately. l.. T..
Manor u engaged by the state. from
funds granted the governor az tho
last legislature 10 audit the books OF
the state board Of land commission.
iers. Olson had assisted w. NJ. Nc.
kendriek three years ago in investi.
eating conditions OF titles In the Utah
coal fields, and when the matter came
mp IN the Manor audit. Olson was en-,
gagged by Manor 10 assist Dincrcn,
ees Of opinion arose between Manor
II and Olson as TO just how credit
should be given TO the latter for his
assistance. Olson wanted his name
signed 10 each Of the parts OF the re-,
port written by him. according "a
state officials. Manor preferred "a
have the credit given In the early part
OF the report, as Is frequently done.
Olson left Mainor's service and wa,
engaged by Auditor Ririe as a dep
uty, apparently TO report on coal Lame
titles and their history. Ririe's office
presumably meaning Olson in lhil
case, obtained possession OF that par
OF the Manor report which Olson hat
assisted In writing.
Prominent state officials were cal
led In. including the committee con
sisting Of the governor, the president
OF the state land board and the audi
tor, which had the general direction
OF Mainor's work. There were con
ferenees and still more conferences
Finally Il was made plain that suel
work as Olson had done either IN re
cent months or two years ago Will,
working for the state belonged to IN,
state, and such parts OF Il as wer,
done while he was working undeI
'Mainor's direction should be returned
TO the latter,
When the question Of whose Il wal
was thus definitely asserted, the prop
erty began to trickle back into IN,
office OF the secretary Of state ant
laoting governor. II was an back
having arrived in several takes
with the exception OF one document
20 which the state. as represented By
/ Manor, may assert title
Olson said that the documents ha,
all the time been In the possession o
the state auditor or such persons a
he might have entrusted them to.