The representative., 1894-12-26

1898, there were 4O4,930 uncollectedt. .stump-
age drafts. some of which had been placed
in the ONCE far back as 1884, 1889 and
1892. This is loaning the states money to
the iumbermen to carry on their business,
ana the committee ADDS that it is rare that
interest is collected by the state treasurer
upon these overdue drafts. AS q result, logs
cut are manufactured into lumber long be-
fore the state receives its money for the
stumpage, and, coupled with this fact, is
edded the notorious fact that the so-called
bonds furnished to secure payment of such
drafts, are grossly and notoriousy worthless.
CHAPTER xI.-STUMPAGE THIEVES.
THE caption of this subject is a phrase
that, so far the state Of Minnesota is
concerned. should pass into history says
the committee. What shall be said of the
stumpage thieves. whose profession, whose
very instinct is child robbery and to whom
falsehood is a stimu.ant and perjury a pas
time? Some Of these characters have al
ready been exposed, others will soon be COM
PEELED to pass through like experience in
cases already in court and those about to
be commenced.
In the accomplishment of these thefts these
persons resort to various ways and means.
The first step Is to impose upon and to
bribe the state estimators. and secure false
estimates. Then all competition at the sale
is stifed by the aid OF their confederates in
these transactions, who combine for that
purpose, and the section Is purchased at one
AuaAtCl VI OHc-tnlFQ OF IS value. Inc next
step Is to see the surveyor general and get
one or their own employees appointed to scale
the timber. Or. in lieu thereof, some
VINO VIII Keep his eyes and mouth closed
10 everything not seen on the landing. Then
a small patch of timber, say forty acres will
90. Is purchased adjoining the school section,
the party then proceeds to cut and haul from
both pieces OF land at the same time. He cuts
5000 700 feet from the school section and 300-
900 from his own. The former Is reported as
coming from his own land and the latter
amount is generously credited to the state.
The committee has not ascertained yet the
amount received by the blind scaler for his
snare In the transaction, but his tenure of Of
flee depends upon the degree Of blindness
When We remember that the insurance
panies openly charged that the timber thieves
In the prosecution Of their nefarious business
were the cause of the great fire that swept
over Hinckley and the surrounding country
burning up 600 people and millions of dollars
worth of property; that in setting fire to
burn the cuttings for the purpose Of covering
up their tracks and prevent the discovery
of their crime, they committed still great
er one. that of taking the lives Of GOO men,
women and children we are moved to say
that during our investigation we have had
this matter brought before us many times,
and we have the testimony of one witness
who swears positively that he was instructed
by prominent lumberman to go and set
fire to section from which he had stolen
6,00oO0O feet Of logs and make a good job
of it, We may add that three different at
tempts were made before the section was
CHATTER xIII-FRAUD-WHOI Is RE-
SPONSIBLE. IL
This most interesting caption is started by.
the following language: "A noticeable fact
In the investigation conducted by this com
mt'ee has asserted itself at every period of
the work. viz, that every step taken every
corner turned, every leaf unfolded, has reveal
ed new and unexpected corruption at times
startling in its deravity. until we may well
oct tiJof finn hox-
turbed the slime that covers the pool OF
rottenness.
AS an instance, the committee cited the al
legged payment of 1912 alleged to have been
made by Auditor Braden the last day of his
term of office to j. McGillis. for scaling
logs. which in fact was never paid to that
gentleman. 1t was discovered that the sig
nature on the back Of the voucher was a
forgery. The committee further states that
there was nothing less than a conspiracy
TO defraud the state out of this amount and
that Mat. Clark received this warrant and
deposited in the bank to the credit of his
wife
Other cases are cited, and Mr. Clark's tes-
timony is partially quoted and nrovaS he
yond question the shadiness of the transac-
tlons. The committee believes that enough
fraud and corruption in the auditors office has
been answered to warrant closer and fur
thef investigation into the matter. In con-
clusion the committee says: IF the state
auditor himself is to use the state funds
for the purpose of paying a favorite clerk
S9oo loi worthless slip OF paper. ii the
clerks in the employ Of the state can BY
such nefarious schemes, palm off upon the
state such rubbish and then put their hands
into the treasury and abstract the money
therefore, or If the clerks Of the state or pri-
vate parties can, by acting in concert, rob
the state with impunty and no one be pun
ished for it. then may the honest, law abiding
citizens of Minnesonta hang their heads in
shame, and say to the general government:
Take back the school fund you gave u.s.
we have no manhood to protect it, This mat
ter should be sifted to it's dregs the guilty
parties, whoever they may be, compelled to
refund their ill-gotten gains, and if possible.
sent to the penitentiary, where they properly
belong '