The Saint Paul globe., 1904-09-20
DUNN REPLY STIRS
UP FEuD IN G. O. P.
Continued From First Page

is on the statute books The attorney
general admitted that section $685. Of
the general laws Of 1894 absolutely pro-
hiblted the practice Of permitting clerks
IN the state service to profit by their
technical knowledge of conditions in
state lands
rs that law still on the statute
books?' the attorney general was
| asked.
There is no question about it," he
replied.
HAS it been amended?" he was
ct has not.'
law?o
Not that I know Of
Nor repealed?''
1T is still on the books, Mr. Dona-
hover said.
Then it is the law of the state2'
asked his caller.
1T certainly is" the attorney gem
Investigation found the law in the
general laws of 1894 Section 6666 pro-
vides:
A public officer who is authorized to
sell or lease any property or to make any
contract, in his official capacity, or to
take any part in such sale or lease or
contract, and voluntarily becomes inter-
ested, individually, in such sale, lease or
contract, directly or indirectly, is guilty
OF mlsdemeanor.
The statutory provision is also found
in the penal code, being section S72 of
the collection of the penal laws of the
state
Governor Declines to Talk
Gov. Van SAINT returned yesterday
from Moline, ILL.,, where he had opened
the Illinois campaign Saturday night.
The governor refused to discuss the
Dunn report, basing his refusal to talk
on the statement that he had not yet
had time to fully read the reply of Mr..
Dunn to the public examiners charges.
The governor is understood to be
criticised in some Republican quarters
for the fact that he made public the
johnson reports at the same time that
he dispatched messenger with copy
to the office of Geroge A. Finn.
Il can't help il" the governor said.
Il was scored when made public the
earlier reports of the public examiner,
and now I am criticised because / gave
the public the same opportunity that
was given Mr.. Dunn to learn the con-
tents Of the last reports
There is a story that the governors
reply to Mr.. Dunns letter, asking for
copies of the Johnson reports, was a
rather cauStic epistle. In the Dunn
document the Republican candidate for
governor included his letter asking Gov.
Van SAINT for copies of the reports, but
made no mention that the governor
had written an equally interesting let.
ter to him in response. The governor
refused to say whether or not he had
written the letter that was being dis
cussed about the capitol as being one
of the most interesting features of an
interesting incident.
There are almost as many different
views as there are persons as to the
construction to be placed on the re-
ports of the states timber cruisers
when they said .'cut east and SOUTH"
"cut all around, "cut on three Sides"
and kindred technical terms.
Fullerton Backs johnson
S. F. Fullerton, executive agent of
the state game and fish commissions,
who was a timber cruiser for time
under the Dunn administration, said
yesterday that the public examiner
was correct in his view of the reports
of the cruisers.
In pursuing his Investigations, Mr..
Fullerton said, .the cruiser had to
have a starting point. and the report
means cut east and south. or whatever
the direction in which he reported,
from his starting point
State Auditor S. G. Iverson takes a
different view of the reports of the
cruisers.
"By saying tcut east and south the
cruiser means that the timber on the
east and south side of the section has
been cut, leaving the standing timber
exposed to fire from the slashings,'
the state auditor said.
The reports of the public examiner
and the discussion that has naturally
followed his disclosures of the methods
for years in vogue in the state audi
tors Office have had the effect of
changing the system of settling for
trespass, and has greatly decreased
trespass by lumbermen, according to
state official who was very careful to
declare yesterday that he was not.
talking for publication.
"The investiga tion," he said, apart
from any political significance, has
had the effect Of throwing the white
light of publicity on the procedure
in the state auditors office, and there
will be no more settling Of trespass on
state lands for simple damages or less
than the value of the timber stolen by
the pine barons.
state Auditor Iverson Immediately
upon assuming office discarded the
practice of settling for this timber OH
value fixed by himself and without
regard to the state laws bearing on
the question. He new insists on triplr
damages In every instance, and the,
lumbernen, with the prospect of al.