The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-01-27
The -Anti-MonopoliSt.
ling bridge over the Minnesota river at

building bridge over the Minnesota river at
| Granite Falls.
| By Senator Williston. amending the school
law so as to provide for appointments Of
school money on the basis of the number of
| different scholars enrolled in the schools dur
| ing the year.
By Senator Gilillan, amending the statutes
| relating to inventions and inventors.
| Also amending the statutes by providing for
expiration after three year $ of liens attaching
to property subsequent to death of the owner
Senator Wilkinson presented petition of
| two hundred citizens Of Mankats asking repeal
Of the Inebriate Asylum law.
BY MIR. Folsom, authorizing the commission
ers Of Chisago county to issue bonds, not ex-
ceeding 5000 for building court house at
Centre City.
! A communication was received and read
from Auditor Whitcomb, replying to the reso-
luton of the senate of Friday last, saying he
had followed the requirements of the resolu-
ton of 1874 as nearly as was practicable.
In conclusion, the Auditor said. eff have
assumed unwarranted responsibilities, it was
in behalf OF what conceived to be the best in
tervsts OF the state"
| Mr.. Donnelly said this was certainly a re-
markable presentation OF facts. The Legislature
was falling very low when every subordinate
officer undertakes to instruct it in such man.
ner as to its rights and powers. The Auditor
had refused to answer the questions PROFOUND
ed i'll the resolution Of the senate. He does not
state who had cot on the public lands, how
much they lad cut, how much they had paid.
etc. Neither does he answer our inquiry as
to the amount Of old claims since Mcilrath's
time said to he $4,000; he does not give US
the names of the parties, the a,nount each one
owes, and whether or not they are solvent. He
| has been selling the right to third parties to
cut pine whenever in his judgment the. public
interest required it. Is all that vast property,
belonging to the children OF the state, to rest
upon the judgment or honesty of one man?
Mr.. Wilkinson had always supposed the
effect of joint resolution waa the same as an
act. He, however. regarded of more import
ance, tine delay OF the Auditors report this
and last year until the session was half
over, too lat for Legislature to take action
uron the facts appearing; and then he did
| not tell why he had not obeyed his instructions
to collect the vast amount due upon which the
logs were probably suffered to escape from the
| States lien, or report word about it.
| Mr.. Smith OF Ramsey held that such a law
could not be repealed bya joint resolution.
He knew it was important to cut the timber
promptly where fires or windfalls had occllrr-
ed. He thought the action in this regard OF
the Auditor deserved favorable consideration or
if need be, the forbearanc OF the Legislature
| MIR. Graves confessed to sympathy with re-
the jue 1ment of our State officers upon the acts
OF the Legislature, and referred to the con-
duct of the board of audit in declaring law
prescribing their duties to be unconstitutional
Knowing something about pine timber, he
stated it to he an absolute fact that the State
must sell or loss its timber in cases of rains
or windfalls
Senator Wilkinson argued that the State
officer. however, was bound by the resolu-
lion. But he cared little about this. His
objection here was that the Auditor has not
| answered all the questions asked. Nearly
$4,000 Of school money, due years ago.
appeared to be yet remaining in the hands
of the men who cut BY premit or trespassed
upon State timber. The State lien upon
the logs was allowed to be lost. And yet
this Auditor says not a word about it, 1t
was his duty to take up the mattar where
Auditor Mcllrath left it; to follow up the
property if he could and wether he could or
not recover the money, to report the facts
and the parties concerned to the Legisla-
ture. 1t would appear as if the officer here
refused to answer. Let it be understood,
then, once for all, whether the Legislature
has right to demand information and com
pei an answer. lie meant not to reflect
upon the present Auditor for what occurred
before his time. But it is fact that $50,
OOO TO 100000 has been suffered TO remain
for years in the hands of men who ought
to have been compelled to pay ii, but who
have not paid it yet and the Auditor says
not word.
Senator DoDnelly called for the reading of
a resolution he had sent up. 1t directed the
Secretary to send a second copy OF the or
iginal resolution and request him TO make a
iull answer TO its several inquiries.
Mr.. Yale-"Les no guilty man escape
MIR. Butler spoke OF the IN amer in which
the most available and valuable part of the
State timber lands had been cut over, leav-
ing it all in danger OF being destroyed by
fire. and more han half the value already
taken away by those who cut through it,
taking only the best trees. In reply 10 Mr.
Wilkinson he said that undoubtedly the
State lien upon logs cut in 1873 had been
lost. Ii could not exist now upon more than
one log in thousand Tne rest had been
sawed and the lumber sold.
SenaI or Macdonald read trom the joint
resolution OF 1874. the direction TO cancel
the outstanding permits and was proceeding
with comments and reading. but gave way
to vote upon Senator Donneiiys resou-
ton. which WAS adopted without further
| dissent
! HOSE BILLS PASSED.
Senate joint resolution mem orializing
Congress to establish a mail route from
Hastings to Cannon Falls via Bellewood snd
Douglas was passed under suspension Of the
rules.
On motion of Mr.. Goulet Of Crow Wing.
the rules were suspended and the bill 10
disorganize the city Of Brainerd and incor-
porate the same Is q. township, was taken
up and passed.
On motion of Mr.. Osborne Of Dakota, the
bill to amend the charter of the village Of
Pennington, was taken mp under suspension
of the rules and passed,
Authorizing certain parties to drain .
lake in Hennepin county.
Authorizing the village of Moorhead in
} Clay county. to issue bonds to build q
bridge across the Red River.
Incorporating the city ofNew Tim, Brown
county.
Changing the name of,se village of Lorsk
to that OF Ssorden. in Cottonwood county.
The House then adjourned 10 10 O'Clock
tomorrow morning