St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-16
THE HOUSE EXCITED.
Sunday AveptS an All-Nlght
Session Of the Lower Leg
islative Body.
Hours Of Hot Discussion Of AL
legged Pine Land Steals q
in Mile Laos. D.
Minority Report Reiected,and
the Majority Report Is
Adopted. "
Charges Of Collision Against
Auditor Biepmann Held o.
to Be Unfounded. =

I. Wnlle the dear people were quieIy
shooting last night three score and ten
of their chosen lawmakers were "chew-
ing the rag" in session that did not
end until a few minutes before mid
night.
Was it hot?
Well, it was.
1t was about as seething in general
get-up as a business session can we'll be
made.
81 wish | could tell what know
about this business here tonight" re-
marked as level-headed man as ever
sat in the Minnesota legislature. This
was said right after adjournment to
trio of newspaper men, but IN such a
way that it would be unfair to give the
name of the man who uttered the words.
Everybody in touch with the house
will feel in his bones the words were
warranted. There was something rot
ten somewhere. but only the Initiated
few could lay their finger on the sore.
Adjournment was taken In the midst
of hilarious scene, and then only be-
cause the law does not allow the mouse
to be held in session after midnight of
Saturday.
The main matters engaglng.the atten-
ton of the house were the reports on
the Mule Lac pine land sales. Mr..
Christie moved to postpone cOnSldera-
ton until 10 a. m. Monday morning. but
| the motion was lost.
The Minority Report
was first taken up, and Mr.. Dunn
moved its adoption. This was opposed
| by Mr.. Wyman, who pointed out that
| the timber was listed on the books OF
| Mr.. Biermann'S Republican predecessor
at S1.75 per thousand. and Auditor Bier
mann had sold it at 81 per thousand. In
this sale he had followed the precedentS
set by his predecessor and according to
the law. Mr.. Wyman roasted the idea
| of holding investigations for buncombe
| and political effect. and said that to his
mind it seemed plain that the minority
report should not be adopted.
Mr.. German followed, in support of
| the majority report, and made very
strong, logical and comprehensive
speech. His review of the circumstances
leading to the sale and analysis of the
testimony was incisive and complete
The whole investigation, he charged
was planned, directed and arbitrarily
carried out by the chairman, Mr.. Dunn
1t seemed cOncluslvely proven by his
| own observation that the gentleman
| from Mile Laos had been actuated BY
the presumption that Auditor Biermanr
was guilty, and that G. A. Smith d Co
had
Robbed the State.
The chairman'S course had been gov
erned. he held, by the determination tt
sustain that presumption. No other
member of the committee had taken
much part in the investigation until the
majority report was drawn up as the
findings of three members. An offel
of the state auditor to show the value
of the timber had been rejected, witt
the statement that the value of the log:
was not in question; only the law was
at issue. No testimony had been calico
on the auditors side, and that officia
withdrew on account of discourteOu
treatment. One of his assistants alsC
gave up in disgust, and Mr. Blermann':
side had practically no hearing.
Analysing the testimony of Sessrs
Goss. Page and Pratt, Mr.. German as
serted that the testimony had beer
twisted in the minority report so that
was misleading. He quoted the lette
of Goss practically demanding
"divvy" on the timber secured by G. A
Smith & Co., and commented thereon il
caustic language. The 'remarkabl
honesty" of Mr.. Goss, as referred
by Mr.. German, came in for a scath
ing characterization on the testimony a
preserved. Passing to the evidence o
MesSrs. Pratt and Page, the gentlema
from Stearns argued that from thei
own words their evidence was WORTHLESS
and incompetent. In closing, he rea
| ~ hn ~ rannral q
] tanning Auditor Biermann'S action, an
in his concluding sentences warml
condemned the minority report, ey
pressing the sincere hope that it woul
not be adopted.
A General Roast.
Mr.. Dunn then took up the side of TIL
minority. In opening he asserted n
had not the slightest prejudice again:
Auditor Biermann, whom he had SUP
ported when candidate for governO
Republican as he was he DUNN ha
carried Mile Laos county for Biermanl
Referring to Mr.. Wyman's attack on tn
minority report, he said he was not SUI
prised that the gentleman should spea
as he had, though he knew nothln
about the case. Mr.. Wyman, he held
knew that ex-Gov. Pillsbury was tn
Co" of c. A. Smith & Co. "Mlnneal
oils men are always loyal to eac
other" said Mr.. Dunn, ian
it only seems natural that he should d.
fend his neighbor. AS | stated tn
other day, the lumberman never live
that would not steal stumpage if he e
a chance. If this sale was straight an
legal, why has such powerful lobb
4 been at work to get Mr.. Fleming an
3 myself to make favorable report. W
i have been approached by Republican
Democrats, all sorts of people, eve
from Brainerd and beyond. and urge
to make non-committal return of oil
findings. If l should tell the propos
tions made some of you would faint"
The point at issue, Mr.. Dunn said, WI
!. whether or not the auditor had rigl
q to sell at private sale. II claim and a
sert he had not. claim that Audit'
y BIermann knew he was selling Illegal
and that G. A. Smith q Co. knew the
were securing the timber Illegally.
quote the law (Which he readD that Il
appraisal when made for such Sa
must be approved by the governor, Il
q state treasurer and the state land cor
missioner. defy any man or any lObt
to prove that this sale was legal" NJ
q Germans structures on the method
B taking evidence were characterized
81 unwarranted and false.
4 Referring to the opinion of the ATTIC
q ney general, he asserted that Mr.. Chill
& had expressed sorrow for rendering
4 and would be more sorry as time we
on, for it would be circulated i'll eve
4 hamlet in the northern counties, al
would return to plague its author. II
B state had been robbed of $1,000. al