Show Parley Pushes r rander r of Federa Fedea lands 1 11 I Western Slates Open Meeting On Administration The move to transfer federal lands predominantly in the western western west west- ern era states back to the states and to see that the public lands are pr properly perly administrated so education education education tion can be given adequate fi financing financing fi- fi from revenues derived from mineral and other resources of these lands received impetus Thursday at a conference at th the Newhouse hotel Representatives from 11 western western west west- ern era states including those those- from state education associations state land offices and various federal government agencies opened the three-day three western states conference conference conference confer confer- ence on public lands and financing of education at 10 a. a m. m Constant acquisition of public lands in the various states has caused leaders in education to become become be be- come somewhat alarmed and there is deep concern over the move to have the lands absorbed by the federal government given back t tb to the states said John E. E Miles Milc former former for for- mer governor of New Mexico and now New Mexico commissioner of f public lands vho who is taking part partin in the discussions Q Outlines Plans Dr J. J R. R Mahoney Utah edu educator cator and chairman committee on tax education and school finance in ce National Education out out- outlined outlined outlined lined the purpose of ot the conference conference conference confer confer- ence and pointed out that the themore themore themore more education obtains from front these sources financially means the less it will need to acquire through taxation Ho He announced that by the end endot of ot the conference Saturday we expect to adopt a program on administration administration administration ad ad- ministration of federal and state lands of tax-reverted tax lands and anda a program for tor continuous study and cooperation Graphs and charts prepared by Jewell J. J assistant professor of economics University of f Ut Utah h for this particular committee committee com com- showed that the 11 e em ern n states have a combined federal federal federal fed fed- eral acreage of which Is 47 jot Qt the total area of these states and na 89 of th the federal The charts showed that In 1937 the most recent figures available valuation of federal lands as esUm estimated esti m mated ted for assessment purposes was only 3 3 of ot the assessed valuation val val- of private real estate be I ing taxed and for lor the individual I states the percentage varied from i less than 1 In five iv states to 76 In Nevada It was as pointed out that federal fiscal responsibility to local gov gov- because of ot the ownership ownership ownership owner owner- ship of properties within the boundaries of ot such local governments govern govern- ments presents one of ot the more difficult and least satisfactorily handled problems in Intergovernmental Intergovernmental Intergovernmental mental relations Mr Miles said a bill has been passed in New Mexico which transfers all nil federal lands except forest to New Mexico He said saida a bill has hit been introduced in th the U. U S. S senate by Sen Robertson of Wyoming which proposes to transfer federal lands in all states back to the states with the exception tion of ot forest lands and national parks and monuments monument The former fonner Democratic governor governor governor gover gover- nor said It also would mean restoration restoration res rca of mineral rights which have been reserved on lands granted grant grant- ed to the states Quotes s Figures I Dr Mahoney produced figures I showing that the number of ot acres in federal land grants to the 11 western states given to the schools schools' totals of ot which 2180 acres is to co common on schools acres to higher education education education tion and to other sources The amount unsold and for whose administration we gre greatly concerned said Dr Mahoney Mahoney Mah Mali oney totals |