Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-10-14

sum of four hundred dollars, being re-
ceipt given by Lyman Cowderv, special
agent for the collection Of fines in Wal
worth County, from memorandum upon
which it appears that Mr.. Cowrtery col
lected of the Clerk of the Circuit Court
of Walworth Co., $500 for fines, and
500 for tax on suits. That he retained
Sl20, and paid $3.50 into the Treasury.
The amount of S105 tax on suits. he had
no / gal right TO receive, he being ap-
pointed only to collect fines, and there is
now due from him to the State the sum
of thirty dollars, and the balance $40
should be transferred from the School
Fund, into which it was improperly paid,
TO the general fund, where it belongs.
1t will be seen by the accolnpa nyinc
list of mortgages taken for loans marked
" F." that many of then are Detective
The law requires that the Attorney Gen
eral as the legal counsel of the State shall
examine all mortgages, titles, papers &c.,
in relation to loans, and if correct, certify
the same on the mortgage, before the
loans shall be granted. Some of the
loans were made without any such certif-
lcate, and the result is the security which
the State holds for the loans is doubtful or
worthless. In some instances the Auor-
ney General certlfies ii correct when the
mortgage is SO defective that it cannot be
foreclosed.
In some instances there is no amount
named IN the note, sometimes none in the
mortgage-some are not seald-and some
are not dated. In one case the note is
for five dollars, while the loan was for five
hundred dollars. There is no possible
excuse for negligence like this. The peo-
pie rely upon those whom they have elect
ed for that purpose to exercise a strict
and watchful care over fund which they
have ever regarded as sacredly devoted
to the education of the Youth of the State
1t will also be seen that many of the mort
cages were allowed to remain long time
In the Secretary's Office before being re-
corded, thus giving the mortgager an op-
portunity to alternate the land upon which
the security for the loan is based. In
one Instance, II appears that a portion Of
the land mort.aged was SO alIenated, and
the deed was put upon record before the
mortgage was recorded. This loan was
made to John Nelson of Outagamie Co.
The date of the mortgage is Sept. oath
1855. 1t was Got received until March
4th 1856:
In some instances no mortgage can be
found to secure the loan made; in others
the same land is found to be twice mort
gagged to secure two different loans. In
many instances loans have been made to
the same person for more than five hun
dred dollars, which is contrary to law
On the Both Of April, 1855, on sale of
several parcels of lrnd, mortgaged to the
State as security for loans, Henry Quailcs
ceived Patent and then executed a note
for eight hundred and twenty-five dollars,
being the purchase money, and secured
the same by mortgage only portion of
the land included In the Patent-Thus Oh
tanning from the State clear title to some
of the land, and paying for il with land
that belonged TO the State. The mort
gage was given on two separate parcels
of land, one lying in Marquette County,
and one in Milwaukee County. The
mortgage has never been recorded except
in the former County. For other irreg-
ularities, mistakes and defects III the Sc
curities given for lands, we would refer
to the schedule herewith submitted mark
ed F."
Committee have already alluded to the
fact of the clerks and others connected
with the school land office, using the names
of other persons without their knowledge
In the entry of lands, it will also be seen
by the afTi1ayitS herewith submitted that