The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-04
IVERS0N is VERY ANGRY
SENATE DEAF TO STAUFF
Representative r Hugo's Bill
to Prevent Official Favor
itism in Award of Mineral
Leases Rouses Ire of State
Auditor Who Invites the
House to Investigate I'm
piled Charges.

State Auditor Samuel G. Iverson has
extended to the house formal invita-
ton to investigate his office to the end
that the legislature and the people may
know whether or not favoritism is
practiced in the award Of state min
eral land leases as alleged in the Hugo
bill.
Mr.. Iverson is angry, very angry.
His ire was aroused by the introduc-
ton of the Hugo bill to prevent the
practice Of favoritism, and the report
Of the bill and the claims of it's cham
pions printed by 7 he Globe Yes
terday morning Mr.. Iverson sent
G e containing the article often
s1ve to the auditor, and with it a for
NAL invitation for an investigation.
The investigation invitation was re-
ferred to the committee on mines and
mining without comment save the ia
cetfous remarks of members touching
its reference and which ran the gamut
from judiciary to Grimes and pun
iShments."
lverson's Invitation.
ONCE Of State auditor, ST. Paul, MINI,
Feb. 8. 1903. Hon. l.. w. Babcock, Speak
er House of Representatives.
The st. Paul Globe of this morning con-
in the awarding Of mineral leases @ by the the
state auditors office" A copy Of the ar
tlcle is attached hereto.
II this is a true statement in whole
or IN part It should be known by every
member Of the legislature and by the peo-
pie OF Minnesota. II favoritism or dis
cTllmlnatlon rl has been practiced in this
once since my administration began on
Jan. o. 1903. as intimated in the above
quiry.
II therefore request that your honor
able body institute a thorough investiga-
tIon, that the truth or falsity of the
charges or intimations contained in the
newspaper article referred to be estab-
l1shed. am. very respectfully
State Auditor
Law Better Than Rule.
Mr.. Hugo's bill provides for the en-
actment of rule laid down by the
attorney general and practiced by
Auditor Dunn, which provides that
tenders for state mineral land leases
shall not be considered as being made
at the same time unless made on the
same day, and that the first person
rendering $50 to the auditor or paying.
$z5 to treasurer on an auditors order
shall be entitled to the desired lease.
In explanation of his bill Monday.
Mr.. Hugo said:
"A law is better than a rule of the
attorney general. We are satisfied that
tavor1tlsm has been practiced in the
award OF two leases recently and we
want law which at least promises
some protection"
Mr.. Hugo has not changed his mind.
Yesterday he said he earnestly desired
that Mr.. Iverson would go through
with his investigation proposition. He
also said TO T he Globe:
Mr.. Iverson told me this morning
that he knew my brother very well,
and that my brother would not intro
duce such a bill without first consult
ing him. l replied that 1 did not un-
derstand that it was my duty as a
legislator to consult the auditor about
any desired legislation. I also told him
1 was not prepared to enter into
newspaper controversy with him; but
few days will suffice for me to Sc
cure sufficient data to at least make
things interesting"
Iverson Not Communicative.
Mr.. Iverson was not especially
pleased to see a representative of
L Gil o e yesterday afternoon. He
pointed out, in fact, that he had not
requested the pleasure of an inter-
view on the subject of mineral land
leases. The interview was terse rather
than prolific of information touching
the subject matter
Mr.. Iverson confined his remarks to
monosyllabic but emphatic repetitions
of mo, SIR and "Yes, sir" after dis
claiming any desire to state his side of
the case and passing out copy of his
legislative invitation.
1t was suggested to Mr.. Iverson that
his letter to the legislature did not
contain anything like a denial of the
practice of favoritism, and in reply to
a direct
Would you not like to add a denial
of favoritism to this letter." closed
the interview with another and decid-
edly emphatic
mo, sir!"
Those familiar with the auditors Of
fee claim that an investigation will
establish nothing beyond proving that
the legislators are as much at sea at
its completion as they were at it's in
ception. They say an investigation
committee will have no means of as
certaining how long a favored tender
for lease may lay in a pigeonhole in
the auditors Office prior to the day for
opening the bids.