19-1-9: [Additional assistance to defend contest suits.]

The commissioner of public lands is authorized to employ such additional persons, including surveyors and attorneys, as he may deem necessary to defend contest suits brought by the United States government to determine title to school or other state lands, and to subpoena such witnesses as are deemed necessary in behalf of the state in defense of such suits, the per diem and mileage of such witnesses to be paid in accordance with the statutes made and provided therefor. The salaries and actual expenses of such additional persons, and mileage and per diem of such witnesses as are provided for in this section shall be paid from the state lands maintenance fund.