The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-08-20
The School Oil Land Controversy
WHAT'S REALLY AT STAKE

Recently an increasing amount of criticism
has been directed toward the State Lane
Board because of the ong-drawn out contro
versy over the constitutionality of the 1865
school oil lands leasing law. The result OF
that undecided court fight currently finds
the schools not getting as much income from
the school lands as they enjoyed couple of
years back
This is understandable, although misdi-
rected criticism
The school lands of Montana represent
sacred trust set aside by the State Constitu-
ton as source of revenue to forever aid in
the education of Montana children. Regard
less of legislation hastily-passed by state
legislature the land board cannot stuff its
responsibility to so administer such trust prop
critics so that the children of Montana re-
ceive the highest possible return from these
lands
At stake in the legal controversy which has
tied up oil land leasing the past Is months is
the management of about six million acres
of public school lands. The question is wheth-
er the people of Montana, through their land
board shall retain control of these lands, or
whether that control is to be passed on to
the oil industry as would occur should the
1858 perpetual leasing law stand the test
of the courts.
This is no small matter. These lands aver
age $40 per acre vaue-or-re
trust fund for the schools of approximately
sixty million dollars. In addition, conscien-
tious and dedicated efforts over the years by
most land boards and the staff of the depart
ment have made these lands pay upwards
of another twenty-five million dollars into
the permanent school fund. Besides this, mil
lions of dollars have been made available for
current operation of Montana schools from
rental and other earnings off these lands.
There can be no denial that the schools
have had temporary financial setback be-
cause of the long-drawn out court controversy
over the 1858 law. Such would not have been
the case had the last legislature not sue
cumbed to the wishes of the oil lobby and
passed piece Of bad legislation. Sailing
tactics by the oil interests and their friends
since the 1858 act went into the courts, APP
pear to have almost been deliberate in order
that the public might have it's attention
shifted away from the real issue Of who is
to control the administration of school trust
land.
Should the state supreme court when it
finally gets around to ruling on this matter
rule the 1853 act unconstitutional, then there
will be no question but that the people will
'etain control of administration and super
vision of development Of school oil lands for
he greatest possible benefit of Montana chill
1ren. Should the court uphold the acts con-
then for all practical purposes
administration of these lands will be primar-
ly for the benefit of the oil companies, with
he education of Montana children matter
If secondary Importance regardless of the
rust status of these lands
Therein lies what's really at stake in the
school oil land leasing controversy. Bear it
n mind whenever you hear or read inflama-
DRY outbursts about how the education of
Montana kids is suffering because of the
state Land Boards refusal to put the 1853
ct into operation in view of it's doubtful
onstitutionality.