The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-08-15
versions of the same subject is respectfully
solicited. Yours truly
A. HERMANN, Auditor.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Office


18th inst. at hand AS to the lands in ques-
ton only even-numbered sections being in
ciudcd in the grant for state institutions,
l see no reason why, if the company de-
sires to do so, they might not be allowed
to make selections in odd numbered sec
tons. Whether they should be allowed at
this time to make any selections from
eVen-numbered sections would depend upon
whether such selections if allowed would
leave sufficient in even-nurbered sections
of as good character to fill the grant for
state institutions. and in passing upon that
question it ought to appear beyond any
question that the state cannot lose any
thing by allowing such selections. If
there is any doubt whatever upon this sub
ject it should be resolved in favor OF the
state, no action should be taken which
can in any manner impair the value of the
grant to the state institutions. Upon this
point it is enough to say that the grant to
state institutions was a prior grant, sub
ject to which the other was taken.
AS to your responsibility, it might per-
haps be said that your duty as to pat
ents that were issued was limited to the
act of recording the same. But when it
comes to matters affecting the welfare of
the state or more strictly the public, you
as u public officer have a responsibility
resting upon you commensurate with the
Importance and powers of your office, and
while this applies to all matters pertaining
to public interests it bears with special
force upon the disposition of public or
state lands owing to the relation you bear
to that subject by virtue of your office. 1
am, very truly
MOSES f. CLAPP.
Here originated all my troubles and
tribulationS. Considering myself the SER
want of the state, and not of the Great
Northern Railway Company. 1 deemed it
my duty to guard the interests Of the
state regardless of consequences. In this
appears l made a serious political mistake,
one of whose results was the loss, how
ever brought about, of the confidence of
my friends in the alliance. and another
of which may appear in the convention of
my own party if the influences that
worked successfully among the Popuists
are equally influential there, bat mistake
which l do not regret but, on the con-
trary, one which l would repeat under the
same circumstances regardless Of personal
| sacrifices. made as it was in defense of
your interests. subsequently | think in
the month of May, 1892 l was asked into
Gov. Merriams office. where l met the
governor. Acknowledgement Childs Mr.
Samuel Hill, son-in-law. of J. ]. Hill, presi-
dent of the Great Northern Railway Com
pany, and Mr.. Grover, attorney for that
company. Once more the selection of land
from even and odd-numbercd sections was
fully canVassed. The governor was APP
pealed to- but he frankly stated that his
duties in the premises were simply per
tirely in charge of myself as the state
land commissioner | need not narrate all
the conversation but the net result was
that | maintained that the state under the
deciSons of the supreme court, and under
| thJ law had a right to first choice among
the even-numbered sections and that as
the land varied in value from from moth
ing up to $40 per acre, the state should
exercise its right to select the most valu-
able lands for state institutions before the
railroads made their choice; and I finally
SAID that if the Great Northern brought in
any list containing one single acre of even
numbered sections | would repudiate the
entire selection. Attorney Grover re-
marked, That settles it," and the con-
ference ended.
Nter this meeting I received a note
stating that Mr.. Doran. member of the
Democratic national committee wished to
see me. L may here state that for many
years my relations with Mr.. Doran had
been very intimate; that he had placed me
under great obligations To him for many
faVors, and for assistance in the political
campaigns in which | was candidate
There was no man in the state to whom |
was under such obligations as to him. and
no one whom | would do more to accommo-
date. | visited Mr.. Doran and he asked me
what was the trouble between myself and
the Great Northern. | explained to him
that the interest of the state Obliged me
TO refuse the request of the company Mr.
Doran appeared very much displeased with
me, and closed the conversation with the
remark: What is the good of having
friends in office when they are unwilling
to do anything for you"
Matters remained in this condition until
the assembling of the legislature of 1S9}
OF which | asked an appropria ton sufficient
TO permit me to employ cruisers to go out
ana examine the even numbered sections
OF land to which the state was confined in
nd
value. so that | might make the first Sc
lection from them for the state, and be
enabled to certify to the land grant COM
panies from the remainder Of the tracts to
which they would be entitled. An" invest-
cation of sale by me of one tract of
pine-a sale made in manner established
by the custom of the Office under my pred
ecessors, and its legality confirmed by the
written opinion of Attorney General Childs
was begun by the legislature, and | learn
ed that bill was prepared and made
ready for Introduction and suitable ar
engagements were being made for it's pass
age, separating the land commissioners
Office from that of the state auditor in
order tC secure the appointment of a land
commissioner who would be less strenuous
for the interest of the state. The bill was
afterWard introduced by Representative A.
L. koerner, now Republican candidate for
state treasurer. At this juncture Robert
Jamison, then chairman of the Republican
j
on quite friendly terms. came to see me
and requested a private interview. He told
me that he came as attorney for the Great
Northern hallway Company, to see if the
dl1ncultles over the roads land grant could
not be adjusted l told Mr.. Jamison that
if the legislature gave me the appropriation
asked Tor | would Immediately set to work
to select the lands for state Institutions
and that | could no objection to certi-
flying to whatever selections the companv
might make from the remaining lands Mr.
Jamison thought this would be satisfactory
and left The division bill was Immediately
dropped, very much l told, to the dis
appointment of some of the honorable men,
bers. The appropriation asked by me
$4,000. instead of $1,000 was made and I
began and have pushed the work of select
ing lands for state institutions, choosing
those reported to as being the most
valuable, either agricultural or pine
lands.
About three months ago Mr. Samuel Hill
and Mr. Benton. one of the attorneys for
the Great Northern. called at NV Office
bringing with them large numbers of lists
of lands selected by them. embracing even
as we'll as odd numbered sections. In sub
stance what passed was a REQUEST to mo
| 10 accept the filing of these lands, and
my emphatic refusal to do So Recently
TO my intense surprise and pain, it has
come to my knowledge that representa-
tiVes of the Great Northern railway for
some time prior to and during the Populist
state convention We're openly stating that
they paid me sums variousy stated at
| from $4,000 to $4,000. in consideration of
which l agreed to waive my objection and
certify all selections of land they might
present to me. | am told that one Dodge,
an attorney for the company, who by the
way, has achieved recent nOtOrjety in trv-