The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-12-26

the state swamp lands" that Mr..
clark told a member of this committee,
that he, Clark, would not stay in the
state auditors office five minutes only
Tor the information he was getting re-
gard1ng state lands" that the said
Bates is not responsible to the auditor
Tor anything, and that he has access
70 all the records Of the office during
business hours, and knows the COM
plnauon or the vault; that soon after
MI. Blermann engaged Mr. Clark as
clerk in his office, he asked the audi
tor if he would be permitted to pur-
chase pine stumpage at the regular
sales; that the auditor refused such
permission; that Mr.. Clark thereupon
repEed-"all right, l will buy it lust
the same, but you won't know to whom
it is sold;' that Mr. Biermann thought
this remark by Mr.. Clark an evi ance
of 'candor' on his part, and saw moth
ing improper in the same: that Mr..
Clark, when testifying before the COM
mittee, was given an opportunity to
deny that he made such reply to Mr..
Biermann, and refused to so deny it:
that when Mr.. Clark was asked if he
had carried out his threat and bought
1t just the same he answered, Il
don't recollect l won't swear one way
or the other.
In Auditor Biermann's testimony re-
garding the matter, we find the follow
q. Do you thing it proper that a clerk
in your office, who has charge Of the
sales Of pine lands at a salary Of 81, 500
per year should be permitted to en-
gage in outside speculation in any man.
ner, whether school lands, swamp lands
or any other?
A. | can't see why.
z. Do you believe that it would be
unlawful or illegal for Mr. Clark to
engage in speculation IN pine stump
age while he was a clerk in your Of
fee?
A. No, sir, don't think it would;
1t would be indelicate.
We quote from Mr.. Bierman's testi-
mony, book No. 80, pages % to 26, in
elusive:
Q. Have you clerk in your office by
the name of Matt Clark?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What is his position in your Of
flee?
A. He has charge of the stumpage
records.
Q. What salary does the state pay
him for such services?
"A. FIFTEEN hundred dollars a year.
=. How long has he been in your en-
ploy?
"a. lie was mere when L came in the
office, and has been here ever since.
Q. Was it your intention at the time
you came in here to retain Mr. Clark?
A. Yes, sir. He had been highly
recommended to me by parties I
thought l could trust.
.. What are Mr.. Clarl1's duties as
chief clerk of the stumpage depart
ment?
A. Well. to keep the records and do
all the work connected with that busi-
ness you might say.
Q. Is he engaged in any other busi-
ness except that Of clerk in the stump
age department in your office?
A. think so, believe so.
Q. Do you know the nature of the
business he is engaged in?
A. SO far as | know. it is q land Of
fee, real estate office ] have never
been there and don't know much about
it.
@. Has he a private Office for conduc.
ing that business?
A. Yes.
Q. Where is that office?
A. 1t is located in the Pioneer Press
building.
@. Does Mr.. Clark spend all his time
attending TO his duties to the duties
of clerk in your office?
A. No, sir. When Mr. Clark was
here during Braden's administration
his salary was $1,000: when / engaged
MI. clark Win the understanding that
he was to receive 81. 800 but his entire
time was not to be devoted to the state
for such salary.
Q. So when you speak Of his entire
time, it was never understood that his
entire time was to be devoted TO the
public business; how much Of his time
does he spend in your office as a rule?
A. In the busy season he is here all
the time. Now. for instance at this
time Of the year, you might say, /
don't know, less than half Of the time.
c. Do you think. as a rule, from one
years end to the other he spends more
than half his time in your office?
A. Yes, sir more than one-half Of his
time
g. Have you a clerk in your office by
the name Of Bates?
A. No, sir
Q. Is there man i'll Your Office Of
that name?
A. Yes, sir
@. What position does he hold?
A. He takes Mr.. Clarks position
when he is absent. so as TO wait on
them.
@. He is paid a salary by Mr. Clark
out of his own private pocket?
A. Yes, sir.
@. Do you know what salary Clark
pays him?
A. I heard it stated that Clark pays
him 5000 year.
@. That leaves ar. Clark $500 of his