Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1895-01-17

II lHo seleCLiou VI one 10 NC duopCeu Az
the new building, no decision having yet
been reached
In the crowded condition of the present
statehouse, the board of railroad and ware
house commissioners, the board of health
and other departments of the state govern
ment cannot be provided with suitable
quarters, and are obliged to hire rooms
away from the building, while many of the
other departments are greatly hampered
for want Of sufficient room. By the. time
the new building can be completed the
business of the state will have still further
expanded, and the present building will
have become still more inadequate for the
requirements of the state.
The work of constructing new capitol
has been entered upon at time when
both labor and material are exceptionally
low priced, and hence tie building can be
erected at less cost to the state now than
under former conditions. I regard the
enterprise as necessary undertaking, and
refer you to the board of state capitol
commissioners for further information
concerning it.
Coal Combine investigation and Lit
igation Resulting from the Same.
Pursuant to resolution Of the legisla-
ture of 1898, a committee of three senators
and six representatives was appointed to
investigate unlawful combinations, among
producers, carriers and dealers, enhancing
the price of coal to the consumer. The
committee, in proceeding with the work of
investigation, through its agents, obtained
the possession of certain books and papers
of ]. ]. Rhodes, coal dealer and the al
legged manager of an organization of coal
dealers, without his consent and against
his protest Mr.. Rhodes thereupon insti-
tuted an action against the committee and
its agents to recover $4,000 damages for
the taking and detention of the books and
papers. The legislature thereupon passed
an act appropriating $50, 900 to pay the ex-
penses Of such litigation and to pay any
Judgment that might be recovered against
the defendants or any of them. Mr..
Rhodes has finally, after the action re-
ferred to had been twice appealed to the
supreme court, dismissed the same as to
all the defendants, thereby substantially
terminating the litigation. Pursuant to
the act of the legislature last mentioned
an effort was made to procure the indict-
ment Of Mr.. Rhodes and his alleged asso-
ciates, In the district court for Ramsey
county, for engaging in an unlawful COM
bination to enhance the price of COAL but
such effort proved unsuccessful. There
has been expended out of the said apprO-
priation of $4,000 the sum- of 81 ,531.SS for
attorneys fees, costs and disbursements
in the case of Rhodes and in the efforts to
procure his indictment, leaving an unex-
pended balance of 4S,46S.12 that should be
covered into the general revenue fund by
appropriate legislation.
Pine StumpaSe and Public Lands.
A resolution of the legislature Of 1893
directed me to make a judicial investiga-
ton of the sale Of pine stumpage upon
section 36, township AZ of range 26, Mile
Laos county, made by the state auditor to
G. A. Smith & Co., and authorized me to
employ counsel and incur expenditures for
that purpose. Pursuant to such direction
and authority, employed counsel and in
stituted through them, In behalf of the
state, an action against G. A. Smith & Co.
to annul the sale and to recover pay for
the timber already cut. In this action
judgment was obtained against the de-
PENDANTS for the sum of 10,S02.4S dam
ages, interest and costs, and the sale as
to the timber uncut, which was upwards
of two-thirds of the entire lot, was an
nulled. Out of the amount recovered
fees, costs and disbursements, and paid
the balance, amounting to $SO62.48, into
the state treasury.
Pursuant to joint resolution No. of the
legislature of 1898, a committee of three
members of the senate and four members
of the house was appointed to investigate
all frauds committed in despoiling the
school, university, internal Improvement
and other lands of the state of their tim
Der. BY the provision of the same resolu-
ton the governor was also directed to in
vestigate and examine school lands con-
tanning pine timber or which had thereto
fore contained such timber. The appro-
priation of $4,000 for the use of the COM
mittee and $4,000 for the use of the gov
ernor made by the resolution aforesaid
was only allowed by the state auditor to
the extent of $7.74S.29-the unexpended
balance of the appropriation for the legis-
lative expenses of 1S93-and of this
amount S., 900 was placed at the disposal of
the committee and the balance at the dis
posal of the governor. The committee has
proceeded and made great progress with
the work devolved upon it by said resolu-
ton, and, inasmuch as it was hampered
for the want Of funds and the work as
signed to me by the resolution was on the
same line and for the anne purpose as
that entailed upon the committee, I made
it my agent to carry on the work of inves-
tigation assigned to me, and as such agent
placed at its disposal the funds allotted to
myself The committee has made a very
full and comprehensive report, which con-
tains a detailed account of it's work and
many valuable and important recommend
your most earnest and attentive considera-
ton Steps should be taken, under proper
legislation, to continue the work of inves-
tigation so we'll inaugurated by the COM
mittee, and ample facilities and additional
funds should be literally provided for that
purpose.
In connection with this subject cannot
forbear to call your attention to the un-
satisfactory character of the law as to the
sale of pine stumpage. No timber other
than pine can be sold apart from the land,
and pine timber can only be sold after a
board composed of the governor, state
auditor and state treasurer, has deter
mined that the timber is. in danger Of being
destroyed by fire or other cause. After
such determination the timber must be
duly estimated and then sold at public sale
to the highest bidder. The governor and
state treasurer have no means at their dis
posal by which they can determine whether
q given tract Of pine is liable to be de-
stroyed. The only data furnished them
is the meager and generally unsatisfactory
report Of an examiner sent out by the
state auditor. And the estimate made pre-
liminary to the sale is, as rule, made in
a hasty, perfunctOry and slipshod manner
and hardly ever TALES with subsequent
scalings. In my opinion it would be we'll,
If the governor and state treasurer are to
have anything to do with the disposal of
pine stumpage, that each of them be
equipped with adequate means Of obtain
ing information through the channels of
his own office, to the end that these officers
may be a check upon one another and
upon the state auditor, and to the end that
the state may have the benefit Of the indie
pendent and well-advised judgment of each
of them. Each one Of these officers should
also have the same power to procure an
estimate Of the amount of pine
as the state auditor
now has. From estimates obtained
through three independent channels, more
reliable data could be secured, which would
be check upon subsequent unreliable
scalings. The frauds most likely to occur
in connection with the sale of pine stump
age arise chiefly from dishonest and unre-
liable estimates of scalings. commend
the entire subject to your careful consid-
Grafton and attention. Our supply Of pine
Is year by year &, growing less
and less, and we cannot exercise
too much care In disposing of
the residue. In this connection / cannot
forbear to call your attention to the i'm
portance Of protecting our forests against
the ravages Of fires. It is difficult subject
to regulate, but have no doubt your wis
dom will devise some means to relieve us
from our present helplessness. You have
ample authority in the premises. for the