When a person is in possession of any sixteenth section lands under color of title, and has been in such possession for more than 20 years prior to the first day of May, 1908, and neither the state, nor any department thereof, holds any note, bond, obligation or other contract of anyone for the purchase money of such land, and the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Director of Finance shall so certify, and the Attorney General shall certify that proof of adverse possession, by the person now in possession, or coupled with his predecessor in possession, for 20 years prior to May 1, 1908, under color of title, has been made, which proof is satisfactory to the Attorney General. The Governor must cause a patent to issue to said land under the seal of the state to the person entitled thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, if the Attorney General is satisfied with the proof of color of title for 20 years prior to 1908 by the person now in possession or coupled with his predecessors in said color of title, the Attorney General shall not require affidavits of adverse possession for the period prior to 1908, except in cases of boundary line disputes, to establish said adverse possession.