The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-08-29
The Pine LAND RING.
SETTLEMENTS OF THE CASES.
The Beginning of Great Work.
The st. Paul Globe SAYS:

1.-The lamentations that went up for re-
form in the wheat ring, the elevator ring
and the pine land ring have had their eff
feet. The Republicans promised to do
much if given another chance two years
ago. They knocked out the law to give
farmers elevators promised and have
been compromising with the pine land ring
by letting the men off who confessed to
stealing pine at their own price, which. by
the way, but a drop in the bucket of
the amount charged to have been filched
from the state The farmers of the state
see clearly that there is no hope for pro-
lection to their rights at the hands of the
Republicans and thousands of them are
leaving the ranks of the party that for
long years has permitted and even encour-
aged the robberies from the state. The dis
affection in the Republican party is not
confined to the farmers, but is of larga
proportions in the cities"
/ desire to say that the settlements COM
planned of by the Globe were not made by
the pine land investigating committee Of
the two houses, of which l am chairman
but by the attorney general of the state
and by the attorney of the committee.
Harris Richardson, selected after the con-
sultation with the attorney general, anc
himself a prominent member of the Re
publican state central committee.
The committee collected the evidence and
placed it before these gentlemen and then
their connection with the case ceased. II
was then the duty of the attorneys. after
examining the testimony, to determine
whether it was sufficient to collect the
whole claim or whether it was defective
and the case a proper matter for compro
mise.
suit was brought against Powers &
Dwyer, of Minneapolis, lumbermen. for
taking 100000 feet of timber off section 49,
township Sc, range 49, in Itasca county.
for which they had contracted to pay S2.1d
per thousand feet. They reported only
about half the amount really cut; they
were short 2413,674 feet; as proved by tbs
experts, employed by the committee of in
vestigaton: and suit has been brought for
IS per thousand fer the whole 5,0ooao0 feet,
instead of s210 for the 2,473674 feet short.
because they had committed crime in
trying to defraud the state. and liable
for the boom value of the logs al Mime
apolis instead of the stumpage on the land
If, now, the attorney general and Mr..
Richardson should think the evidence de.
fective in any way they may compromise
for $40 on the amount short. or S. or S.
and still the state lose nothing.
If the attorney general, or Mr.. Richard.
son, have committed any wrong we shall
be as prompt to denounce them any
one; but indiscriminate charges should not
be made against them.
The subcommittee. Messrs Staples an6
Leavitt have had charge of the details OF
the investigation in these cases, and, as
far as 1 can see, have shown great dill.
gence and zeal on behalf of the peoples
interests.
The state has already received in these
cases $4,000; the Powers &Dwyer case con.
stitutes the fourth case brought while
several more are now pending in court;
and about ten cases more are ready to be
put into the hands of the attorneys. Tha
suits will aggregate between $250,0o0 and
$500 600: and this is but the beginning of
an immense work; and all that has been
done was done with $500 of appropriate
tons; and the committee has about 81 100
of the $500 still on hand.
A magnificent showing! l. d.