Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-07-31
TIE PINE LAND GRABBERs.
They Are Called Upon to Come 10 Time
and Settle.

As is generally known, Secretary Schurz,
Of the department. Of the interior, proved
amenable to Tom Lowry's whisperings in
behalf OF tho Pine land trespassers. AS has
been stated, District Attorney Billson and
Surveyor General Stewart were appointed !
commission to review all pending cases and
make report at an early day as to such as
should be exempt from damages, and to
assess the amount due of those
iound liable, etc. In furtherance of
this object, the following circular,
which explains itself, was issued yesterday,
ana sent to all interested parties or their at
torneys:
OFFICE OF UNITED STATES ATTORNEY,
st. PAUL, MIMI, July 3Oth, 1870.
]. SIR: The defendants in several of the ac-
lions now pending in this district for the re-
covery by the United States of the value of
logs cut from public lands, have submitted
appncatlons for the compromise of their al
legged liability. The department Of the inte-
rior and Ct Justice have SO far entertained
THESE applications as to take them under adj
vlsement and to make their merits the sub
!ect OF investigation. It being considered that
IT any OF these applicants are to be accorded
better times of settlement than those hereto
tore oHered, the same terms must be offered to
the DEFENDANTS in all other pending cases in
which the logs were converted under similar
circumstances, all the actions now pending for
the conversion of government logs prior to the
winter OF 1867 have by the concurrent action
OF the Hon. secretary of the interior and the
hon. attorney general been referred to the
undersigned for Investigation, and with in
structiona to report:
lot. The cases in which the evidence shows
that the defendants were wilful trespassers.
I'd. Cases where the parties who cut and re-
moved logs from the public lands have made
FULL or partial settlements therefor on the
stumpage basis, in accordance with the prac-
tice at that time prevailing.
Sd. The cases in which the evidence shows
that the parties purchased the logs knowingly,
had been cut from public lands, and paid the
stumpage rates in full or in part.
9Th. Cases where the parties cut logs upon,
or purchased logs taken from the public lands,
knowingly, and have not paid the stumpage
rates in part OF in full.
9Th. The cases in which the evidence shows
that the parties purchased the logs without any
knowledge that the same had been taken from
the public lands, and under such circumstances
as to lead them to believe that they had been
taken from private lands, or upon the
positive assurance that they had been taken
from private lands.
9Th. What would be a fair basis of settle
u1CuG III ctCu OI tu6 ABOVE classes OF CaSeSS -
As defendant in one or more of the cases SO
referred. you are hereby notified that any evil
dence. afidavits, statementsor representations
which you may wish to submit in support of
your claims to more favorable terms Of settle
lnent than those heretofore offered by the gov.
eminent, will be received by the undersigned
ut their Offices in the custom house, in st. Paul,
at any time prior to September 10th, A. d.
1879, at which time it is expected the invests
CATION will be closed.
The foregoing enumeration of the points
with reference to which we are called upon to
report will sufficiently in form you as to the
matters concerning which evidence can be
pro6tably submitted.
All statements should, as far as possible, be
in the form of affidavits. and should be framed
with due formality, precision and detail, setting
forth the affiant means of information, as the
weight accorded them will necessarily be pro-
portioned to the degree in which they approx
mate to the character of legal evidence.
VIM. w. BMLsoN, q. s. Dist. Atty.
]. b. STEWART, Surveyor General.
The purpose is to close the investigation
in September, so that in the event of fail
ure of settlement in any one or all the cases,
the parties to the issue may be brought to
trial at the December term of the United
States circuit court.