St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-02
LAND COMMISSIONER BILL,

Since the formation of the state the
state auditor has been eX-offieio, lana
commissioner. He has had charge of
the lands belonging to the state and its
different institutions. Some years ago
an effort was made and defeated to
separate the functions of that Office and
create land commissioner. No reason
for this then existed except the desire
of person who wished appointment to
the new office.
There is no reason now for the separa-
ton that has not existed with greater
force ali these years; that is, no reason
related to the interests of the state. The
quantity Of land belonging to the state
is less than half of what it has been
since the state was admitted. The work
of the office is less than it has been, and
Is necessarily, as the lands are disposed
of, a diminishing quantity.
The bill creates the Office, and sala-
ries the commissioner at $500 a year,
and provides him with staff OF clerks.
1t involves new Offices, new records,
larger expenditures at time when the
work is decreasing. There is absolutely
no need for the Office on any ground
affecting the interests of the state, its
lands, or the public. The state never
had more upright. honest man for au-
ditor than now. If he errS at all. it is i'll
being too vigorously honest. What,
hen. is the motive back of the meas
ure? There must be something other
than desire to guard the states inter-
eSts.
There are two forces back of the bill,
politics and railroads. The political
motive is the desire to defea: the wish
of the majority of the people of the
state, expressed in 1890, which put a
Democrat in charge of the land olfi,..
If he cannot be ousteJ, he can be at
least shOrn OF large part of his duties,
and new office created for some party
worker. This will appeal to the politl-
cal element in the legislature.
But the stronger force, and the on
which has shown itself omnipotsnt in
this legislature, is thu land grant rail-
roads which have selections of land to
make in the northern part OF the state.
They have found in Auditor BIERMANN
stumbling block in their way. What
with their alternate section grants and
their indemnity grants and their swamp
land grants, they are in position to take
the best lands as fast as they are sur
veyed. The supreme court has decided
that their grants are subject to the prior
right of selection by the state of lands
for the university and other public ill.,
situations. Auditor BIERMANN has in
sisted that he would not certify to their
selections until the state shall have
first used its rights and made its selec-
tons.
This is the powerful influence that is
behind this bill with its false mask of
pretense of regard for the public inter-
ests. They want this sturdy, honest,
conscientious officer removed from the
charge of the lands so that plant tool
may be put in charge and they may
have first choice among the lands of the
state, letting the state take their leav-
lngS. This is the meaning of the far
cical investigation OF bob" DUNN'S
committee into the Mile LacS sale of
pine; it was intended to raise cloud
of suspicion. and thus pave the way for
the land commissioner bill. 1t may go
through. The roads have already shown
their mastery of the legislature. But
if 1t does the GLOBE warns them that
they are, as a prominent Republican
said recently, doing their best TO make
| this state Democratic"