State ex rel. Winston v. Morrison

Citations

• 18 Wash. 664
• 52 P. 228
• 1898 Wash. LEXIS 605

Syllabus

<p>OWNERSHIP OE LAND BY ALIENS — LEASE FOR TERM EQUIVALENT TO CONVEYANCE — VALIDITY.</p> <p>Under article 2, section 33, of the state constitution, prohibiting the ownership of lands by aliens and declaring void the conveyance to them of lands, except such as contain valuable deposits of minerals, metals, iron, coal or fire clay, and the necessary land for mills and machinery to be used in the development thereof, a lease of lands not falling within such exception for a period of ninety-nine years is for such an unreasonable term, as to fall within the meaning and spirit of the constitutional prohibition against alien ownership. (Anders, J., dissents.)</p>