The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-09-03
CORRESPONDENCE WITH NJ ILRArH.

The law relating to the sale Of pine
.stumpage, as stated by Mr.. McIlrath.
is, $50 far as he attempts to give it,
substantially correct, but it will be seen
that there is a startling contrast be-
tween his statement Of the manner in
which the stumpage business was trans
acted and that of Mr.. Cover as appears
in his testimony.
Upon resuming our labors subsequent
to adjournment, we made another effort
to discover in the office Of State Audi
tor and Land Commissioner record or
account of the proceeds Of pine timber
cut by trespassers and settled for by
Mr.. Mcilrath or the examiner, his rep
resentatlve, but without avail. We
were unable to find any such record or
account, as were also the present incum-
bent, Mr.. Whitcomb, and his assistants.
Still believing that there must be some
such record somewhere, the committee
directed the chairman to address The
following communication to MIR. Nell
rath ::
Rooms OF STATE AUDITOR INvEsTiI
DATING COMMITTEE, ST.. PAUL,
June 26th, 1874
Hon. Chas McIlrath:
SIR: Our committee being unable to as
certain from the books and papers left by
you in the State Auditors Office when your
term expired, the amount of timber that was
cut without permit, or by trespassers, upon
the School, University or other State lands,
and settled tor by the parties SO cutting, or
the amount received by you in payment or
settlement thereof--respectfully request you
to furnish us with a statement in detail of
the timber 80 cut by trespassers, and after
wards settled tor, and by whom so cut, and
showing the amount received for the same
and by whom and when paid.
We expect that while the records and &C
counts of the Auditors Office are so defect
i've in form, or irregular, as to render it i'm
possible for us TO get this information cor
rectlv, you can prepare from your own per-
sonal knowledge of the facts, aided By an
examination of those records or accounts,
such statement and furnish us the same as
requested.
We should, perhaps, add here that before
we close our labors, We will give you an OPP
portunity to appear before US and make any
in the meantime wish you to furnish US with
this statement, TO enable US more readily to
pursue our investigation
Very respectfully,
j. L. MACDONALD,
Chairman.
To the foregoing Mr.. Mc1lrath sent
the following reply:
ST.. PAUL, June p, 1874.
Hon. John L. Macdonald, Chairman of Sen
ate Investigating Committee.
S1H: Your note of the Goth, requesting
me to furnish your committee with = state
ment in detail, showing the timber cut on
school, university, and other State lands by
txespassers, and the amount received there
for, is received.
Such statement would have to be COM
piled from the files Of the State Land Office;
and if, as you state, those files are SO deiec
tive in form or irregular that correct show
ing cannot be made, certainly would not
undertake to correct or add to them from
"sn'' CHARLES MclLRArH.
Upon receipt of the foregoing from
Mr.. McIlrath, the committee again ad.
dressed him as follows:
ROCKS OF STATE AUDITOR INVESTIGATING
COMMITTEE,
ST. PAUL, June 30th, 1874
Hon. Charles McIlrath:
SR: Yours of the 9th inst, IL ansv or
to our letter OF the 26th, is received aud
read by the committee with some surprise
We conclude that you rlisinterprct or let
ter or perhaps misunderstood its purpor.
and the nature OF the information desired.
What we wish to be understood IS saying
was, that the accounts and records in the
State Auditors office (and by that We wish
to be understood as including what you term
the State Land Ofice) were 50 detective il
form or irregular, that neither we, nor your
successor or his deputies, are able to ascer-
tain definitely and to our satisfaction, how
much timber has been cut BY treSspasS-rs
upon school, university, or other State lands
and settled for by you, ard the amount paic
therefor, while you were State Auditor anG
CT Q0scio Commissioner OF the State Lame
Office.
The same can also be said with referenc.
to the amount received for the sale Of hay OF
grass growing upon such lands.
Presenting thas you viii Be willing to &C