Daily globe., 1879-03-23

The news of Doctor Stewards appoint
ment to replace Gen. James II. Baker, as
surveyor general, created no little surprise
yesterday. The surprise having ultimately
settled down to a state of acceptance, "thi
why's and wherefores' came in for no little
amount Of discussion. If anybody should
be conversant with these features of the
affair, the appointment and the drop from
the national teat, it was thought the princi-
pals were the parties. So two GLOBE emssaries
took up divergent and sought G Gen. James
H. Baker and DR.. J. H. Ste wart, ex-
Nj. c..
WHAT GEN. BAKER SAYS.
AS possession is nine points of the law
Gen. Baker. in possession, was first called
upon to see what he thought about surrender
ing his nine to the doctors one. The OBJ
ject of the visit was make known without any
preliminaries, and without objection the
surveyor general was ready to have his
thoughts given in expression for the pub
lie survey.
How does this matter of DR.. Stewards
appointment strike you, General?"
with surprise, l confess. 1t was wholly
of any one to the office I now hold.''
''What influences do you attribute your re-
moval top
My term of service expired on the 10Th
inst. but felt assured I'd be reappointed
l presume DR.. Stewards appointment is
solely due to the friendly and close personal
relations existing between him and Secretary
Schurz.''
''Yon felt assured of your appointment,
why?"
'Under the civil service rules, if they were
to be enforced. | felt myself entitled to the
appointment. l felt assured of retaining my
Office. My record was clean, and had been
particularly spoken of by my superior, J. A.
Williamson, as faithful and superior officer.
In addition I had the support of the whole
Minnesota delegation. Further, my reten-
ton was personally urged by Senator Win
dom. Under the circumstances, felt conf
dent of my reappointment. These recon-
mendations we're endorsed by the Governor
and all th9 State officials, and We're concur
red in by Commissioner Williamson
The general began to toy with Bill King s
paper, and the reporter called his attention
an editorial therein where it was intimated
that ''dry leaves ratified among the pine
land thieves, the evergreens mourned
and there were many cross cuts in the
conical sections Of the pineries. etc."
To interpret the essay into United States,
it was intimated to the General that the
article rather hinted that Doctor Stewart
would stir up Washburne, Fletcher and the
rest of the pine land gang, while he,
Baker, had rather serenly ignored
the enornity of their depredat1ons
That said the general, ':has never been
to;El l.,
from any interest in the pine lands. This
part of the business has, at my suggestion,
been committed to the charge of special
agents. They, under the general supervision
of District Attorney Billson, look into the
of the Office, by custom, from twenty-five
years usage, this feature was attached to the
Office. By law the Office had nothing to do
with it, and [ suggested the change. Look
here land then the General pointed to his
letter book, where, under date of Aug. 90
1915, he showed letter embodying the
above idea. The suggestion that DR.. Stew
art is put in the office to stir somebody up is
erroneous. He can't do it there's no law
nor instructions to authorize him to mix ur
in any such ;nvestigation.''
Coming back to the matter of the ap-
pointment, general, has anything been done
to prevent confrmation?''
'Not to my knowledge not by my con-
sent. Personally have done nothing, mol
will To-
"Permit me-"
Il WISH interrupted Gen. Baker, "to
make myself particularly clear about this
question of "a pine la ID ring Since have
been in Office any speculation in pine
lands has been severed from Office. We have
only done the survey work. This Office has
nothing to do with the sale of land. And
the twaddle here (pointing to the Dispotch>
about the Mile Lacs lands, etc., is the
merest bosh. AS to Joe's (Wheelock) edi
torial, he can't mean that I have Interested
myself in the pine land business, because
couldn't have done so had I wished it. No1
can Dr. Stewart do so, the whole business
being consigned in this district to the
special charge of Judge Jones and Col
PrOtois."
little further talk, informal in it's nature
followed, during which this information was
impaired: There are 53,439,94O acres of
government land in Minnesota, of which
39,699, 1913 have been surveyed, leaving owe,
100000 to be finished up by DR.. Stewart O,
his successor. After which the GLOBE man
gllded away to confer with his confrere
about
What DR.. Ste,vart Said
DIR. Stewart was the subject of congratu.
lation yesterday. His office was thronge6
with prominent citizens, regardless of poll
tics, who expressed qualification at his an
polntment and the hope that ht
would be speedily confirmed. The
GLOBE representative paid his profes
sional visit after the burden and hea
of the day were over. He found the doctor
TRANQUILITY chatting with a friend and an
parently in excellent spirits. AS soon as tht
GLOBE envoy could obtain especial audience
he asked
''Well, doctor, what have you to say abou
all tnis huouo on the Surveyor general bust
ness?"
81 didn't know there was any special hub
Duo Oh Tue SUBJECT. l understand some o1
tne so-caled pine land ring do not like nv
about it, 0oDn1' 'e
What is the reason for their opposition?' ?'
NOW you are asking too much. I DOM
Inlnh IL "oulo DC proper for me, under the
circumstances, to go into general discussior
of this matter, and T must ask to be excnsed !;
''Do you expect there will be anv onnosi
ton to your confrmation?''
81 have no reason to suppose there will be
any. Senators Mcmillan and Window are
both friendly to me, and even if urged b1
outside parties to oppose the nomination
do not believe they would do it,
"Do you mean by saying they are friendl,
that they urged your appointments"
IL do not say they solicited the appoint
ment, but mean that they are not likely. il
my Judgment, to object.''
"But suppose they do, or that Senator Win
dom does?'' 49,
Il have nothing to say on that point. w.