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

were made payable to the order OF the State
Treasurer. But all of them were so taken
on behalf Of the State, to apply on the
stumpage business.
Mr.. Dixie. the present State Treasurer, was
fully informed by me about the condition of
these affairs, before or about the time he took
possession OF the Office. The present Deputy
Treasurer was also the deputy of Mr. bikes
predecessor, and the papers and notes were
placed in his, said deputy's hands, with Mr..
bikes knowledge and consent.
The whole matter of the notes and stump
age was talked over in the Treasurer's office.
between Mr. Seeger, Mr. Dixie, Mr.. Hurter
and myself, and was fully understood by all
of them.
When retired from Office considered nv
responsibility in the matter entirely at an
end; at the same time, regretted the neces-
sity Of leaving unsettled accounts for other
officers to collect, and volunteered nv ser
vices to make the burden as light as possible.
was very much surprised when informed by
the deputy, Mr.. Hurter, in November, that
no one could be found to enforce those con-
tracts, and that he was p ,werless in the mat
ter, and that mus. take charge of them
again, and made such reply as my time and
opportunity afforded.
Since the date of that reply, some of the
notes have been paid in full; others paid in
part; others extended upon payment of in
terest and the deposit of additional securities
while all the parties acknowledged the Just
ness of the claims and assure the Treasurer
that they will pay them.
There is no necessity whatever of any loss
to the State on account of these claims. All
the parties are abundantly able to pay, or
ready and willing to furnish further security
if required so to do.
During my administration of the office,
over $3.50, 900 worth of stumpage was sold for
the State, and it will be found that during
the ten wears that was Land Commissioner,
the percentage of losses to the State on
stumpage contracts will be far less than the
average loss in ordinary commercial transac-
tons. Respectfully submitted,
CHAS. McILRATH.
At that time the statement with
other proceedings of your committee)
was not intended to be made public I'M
til our report was made; but a copy of
the same was Given to one of the St.
Paul newspapers by Mr.. McIlrath, 1--we
presume, and published therein the day
following its presentation to us. We
make this statement in justice to the
committee, as the fact of it's publication
was commented upon and criticised at
the time.
After having examined several wit
nesses and finding it impossible before
adjournment to make satisfactory in
vestigation, or such an one as called
for by the resolution. in consequence
of the vast amount of labor which is
imposed, your committee were author-
lied at their request, to sit after the
adjournment of the Senate and prose-
cute their labors, with instructions to
submit their report to the Gov
ernor who would transmit it to
your body. This we have done, and
we trust and believe that an examina-
ton of the testimony will convince you
that we have made an honest effort to
ascertain and lay before you all the
facts within our reach. Our duties
have been arduous, tedious and often
times unpleasant, in having to procure
testimony from those most reluctant to
give evidence, and we can only say that
the investigation has proved to be
matter of much greater magnitude than
we anticipated, and that we have de-
voted fully as much of our time to it
as proper regard for our private in
terests AM affairs would warrant. It
will be readily understood that in pros
ecuting an investigation of this charac-
ter, voluntary informants of Irregular.
ties, or frauds, arc rare, as few persons
other than the parties to the same are
cognizant Of such transactions or acts,
hence the unpleasant duty of becoming
special detective is, in effect, imposed
upon each member Of the committee.
In regard to the unpaid notes de.
scribed in the above mentioned COM
municaiion of the State Treasurer, the
following communication from that Off
Ger will show how many have been paid
since this investigation was ordered,
and what action has been taken by him
with reference to those remaining un-
paid:
ST. PAUL, Aug. 10, 1874.
Hon J. S. Macdonald, Chairman Invcstisat-
ing Committee
DEAR SIR: In reply to your favor of the
18th inst, have the honor to enclose here
with . list OF stumpage notes paid since my
report to the Senate, aud statement ct the
action taken in regard to those remaining in
hand unpaid:
NOTES PAID, BELONGING TO PERMANENT
SCHOOL FUND.
Date OF Payment.
February 10, 1874, Bray, Wilder &
Co., note due Feb Is, 1874. e641 65
February Is, 1874, Croker Bros.
4 La.eureaux, note due Febru-
airy IL. 1874, 3O7 r.
February q, 1874, Bray, Wilder
Co, notes due March 10 4 April
Is, 1874 1890 "a
due July 8, 1873, COZ O5
UNPAID NOTES, BELONGING TO PERMANENT
SCHOOL FUND.
Anoka Lumber Co., dated New. 30.
1872, with IL per cent interest, S547 SO
Turned over to Attorney General
April IL, 1874.
Munger & Gray, dated Dec /, 1873,
IL per cent interest, due June /,
1874, SLOTS q
" I" Dec. l, 1874. Sl.O75 "a
Having collected the interest on city Of
Duluth bonds, deposited as collateral securi-
ty, the interest dine on the first of these
notes was paid up to June l, 1874, and also
Sl45. 49 on the principal thereof.
Croker Bros. Lam0ureaux, dated
Nov. l, 1874, tdue March II, IA $500 90
:" (due April II, IA $500 90
g :" tdue Nay IL, 1879 $500 90