The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-09-05
MINNESOTA.
Investigating Committees
Report.

Democrat, to investigate the transactions
of the late State Auditor, Charles Me-
llrath, on account of school and swamp
lands which were in his charge As Stat"
Land Commissioner cr OHiciO, 10 day
made a unanimous report showing a
startling state of things. \ portion of
the Commissioners report has been anti
cipated by certain Out-giVingS, but the
effect can scareeN fail TO BE- more pro-
found and astonishing than the result Of
the late investigation into the irregulari-
ties of the State Treasurer. The commit
tee include the evidence taken by them
with their report. Both the evidence
and report are very volumlnous. The
committee claim 10 have discovered
defalcations on the part Of Mcllrath L.
theamount of So, jj9. The Commissioners
say that preliminary to the examination
of books papers and records Of the Aud
itors Office, which were turned over 10
the present State Auditor, and the tcs-
timony Of those now in that office dcy"l-
oped a startling fact which was subSe-
quently admitted by Mr.. Mrllrath, in
his testimony before IL. That no ac-
counts whatever could be found or was
kept of the transaction, amounting TO
$1,000, especially of any money received
for the payment of timber cut upon the
school university grounds, railroad
swamps, indemnity or internal improve
ment of lands without permits. or in
many cases with permits.
Sale OrGrass.
Equally unsatisfactory state Of affairs
exists with reference to the proceeds Of
the sale of grass upon the school Ands.
The committee presented the following
schedule ofsOmc Of tho dcfulration> of Mr..
Ilrath. which their investigations brought
to light The first amount paid to
McIlrath for timber cut hv
permit upon the school land
$sO,O25.24; amount or same paid over by
him to the State Treasurer, SG6. S22."Oi
amount not paid over, $l3, 1924; amount
paid to Mcllrath for timber cut without
permit on school lands, Sil57G.lS;
amount of same paid over by him to th"
State Treasurer. si.S92.O3; amount not
paid over. SG,4S4.l5; amount paid to
McIlrath for timber cut on other State
lands not classified, "a, 1889; amount of
same paid over by him to the State
Treasurer $500; amount not paid
over, S3,3GG.92. Second District
amonnt paid to Mcllrath for timber cut
By permit upon school lands, SIP, 1896;
amount of same paid over by
him to State Treasurer. SSj,GIG.O2;
amount not paid over, S2G, ,jGi.G3;
amount paid to Mcllrnth for
timber cut by permit on University
lands, $39, ,5s3.56; amount Of sam" paid
over by him to the State Treasurer,
$23. .929.74; amount not paid over. >lj,-
653GO; amount paid Mcllrath for timber
cut without permit on school lands, SlG,-
1925; amount Of same paid over 10y him
tO the State Treasurer, Sl3, 3,lSI.jj; {;
amount not paid over, SS},j22.Gs; amount
paid McIlrath for timber cut on State
lands. not classified. without permit
$7jl796; amount Of same paid over by
him to the State Treasurer, S3,2@b.@l; {;
amount not paid over, So %; amount
paid Mcllrath for timber cut by permit
on swamp, State aud other Lands,
$4,lSl12; amount not paid Over 3" tn"
State Treasurer, S4,lSl.l3.
Official Statement Of the Auditor.
In addition to the foregoing We find
that on about the 9Th day Of NCLt,
1864. McIlrath, Il, STATE Auditor. furnish
I'd to the officer of IN" Lake superior
and Mississippi Railroad Company, an
official statement If the amount pt money
that had been collected hy him. 10 pay
mrnt of timber cut in thc winter hf So
G7-Ss. on the additional -rctiyu "l land
then held in trust 10y IA" Stat" for the
construction Of the said Lake superior
and Mississippi railroad, and also Of that
cut the same -ra-Ou- upon certain ,wamp
lands then held hy tA" STATE ia trust for
the said railroad company. In the"
statements Mr McIirath certified that b"
collected the following Sums for timber
cut: Upon the swamp land, =, l@S.iS;
for timber cut upon the additional -"c-
ton, $2,23s.&7, making total Of So
1865.
No Record Of these Transactions II Ia
be Found
in anv form in the Auditor- or Stat"
Land Officer Office We find that no
portion Of this so. 1865 has been. paid
into the treasury Of th" Stat". and that the
same il 10 be added 70 the deficit abgv"
shown 10 exist. TbcrCpInujti"r discover
ample evidence that McIIrath. Will"
State Auditor, was a secret partner Oi
the parties trospassing on the schOoi and
university pine land, under charge OF
the Auditor and give schedule nf the
land. 50 occupied. III" testimony ot
p. VI. Mylcs. If New York. tend. Il
convince the committee that Mr
McIlrath kept for two years Missouri
State bonds belonging to tn schoo
fund in the hand Of Myers, on which
he, McIlrath. ha. regularly been inter.
ested, which i, uuaccpuntcd for Tn,
lands were finally transferred b. ths
school fund. After alluding 70 many
other TRANSACTION which NJ. McIlrati
failed to explain, whereby the state OF
the School Cniver-ity ot Swamp Land
funds was the lo.or. and proved the DE-
falcation If McIlrath to the sum of SO
$50.
Remedy Of the State.
The Committee having asccrtainel
the foregoing fact. the inquiry -uggcste,
itself as to what remedy the STATE had !,
indemnify its.lf for the laeses. Tl6
developed that Mr.. McIlrath executed n
official bond to the State at thr tim,
Of or since the commencement of biz Ia
official term OF thr.c year. hiz cfFicia
oath was filed and recorded in the olio
Of the Secretary Of State, bUt no bond o
the State Auditor. /, Is impossible 70
YOUR committ,e t. explain why tn
Executive. Hon Horace Austin, shoulr
have overlooked 80 important an off,cia
duty. No other charge Of direct CON
plicity With Mcllrath Is made against II
Governor Austin. The committee close
: its report SIS follows:
Your committee csnnOt.concIude thi
report Without giving expression to thei