Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-09-08
TO SCHOOL LAND LESSEES.

The arguments being resorted to by the little
group who have been the special beneflclaries OIL
the present system, lack of system, in the iand
office re very heterogeneous subtle effort is be-
ing made to create a feeling of Apprehension IN
the minds of those dealing with the land office that
uncertainty and confusion would follow the adoption
of the amendment creating a board Of three COM
missoners.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. We
have no encouragement to offer to those who nave
been given special favors by the office. These nave
received that to which they not entitled and
which would not be continued to them under bona
fde management in the public interest. There are
very few of such benefciaries.
The fact is that the chief source of the power
of the land office the average little lessee mas
been due not to special favors granted him but to
his knowledge that he at the mercy of the ofics
and that the smile of their favor has been necessary
to get justice Therefore these have lived in fear and
have done they were told.
Such system should be stopped and can be
stopped 1t is necessary in most of the courts In
the United States, to fawn at the feet of judge In
order to get justice. The law provides precedencs
and method of appeal which are not subject TO the
whims of courts. fight for his rights. He
does not need to servilly bend humble knee 70
some judge.
Until the land office is managed under definite
rules and regulations which specify exactly the pro-
cedure to be adopted, with definite rights of appeal
by a well defined method, to board of land COM
nssoners the lessee is bound to live in fear
that the arbitrary fiat of the land office will deprive
him of something to which he is entitled. That Of
flee should be as well organized in procedural AMI
appeal rights as the courts of law.
A well detailed system of preferential rights to
the renewal of leases by the person in lawful pos
session and having improvements on the land should
be established, until lessees could know to Ger
tanty that they could compel renewals under these
definite conditions
or all the people in New Mexico, the averag
small lessee should be most keenly interested In a.
orderly procedure. He should be in position to In
sist upon rights instead OF begging for favors.
The latter system is what has given the Ian
office its tremendous political power Men we,
afraid of losing that to which they were entitf
unless they curried the favor of the office The
people should break up this old system right now
by the adoption of the school land amendment.
1t is time that this immense trust estate began
to be run under a proper procedure.
The legislature provided for the classification
of these lands years ago. Such classified
ton would have resulted in definite information
being in the office of which lands were good ana
which were bad. Lease prices could then be fixed
intelligenty Lessees could be charged equitable
price which would be neither too high nor too low.
Justice could be done. The land office has wholly
failed to proceed the law to make such class
fcation.
There is no great business in the United States
being loosely and arbitrarily the land office
Of New Mexico. Those having business with the OF
flee should be the first to wish this corrected.
The stockmen are having hard enough time
right now. The Journal does. not wish to add to
their burdens their costs This proposal If carried
will do neither. 1t win put them in position to en-
force their rights and be free from apprehensions
of injustice.