The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-19
4 LONG DEFENSE
OF HIS RECORD
Former State Auditor and Present
Candidate for Governor
Speaks at Last.
WARM ROAST FOR VAN
SAINT AND JOHNSON
Admits that His Clerks Got Valu
able Mineral Leases-The
Timber Depredations.

r. c. Dunn has given out his reply
to the charges implied in the recent re-
ports of Public Examiner s. T. John
son.
Practically all the reply Is given over
to the timber permit matters. The
facts in the report as to mineral leases
are admitted, and ignoring the law
which prohibits officials from having
any interest in contracts with which
they have an official connection, Mr..
Dunn claims that his action was per-
fectly legal and iustifable. The leases
to which his employees secured title he
maintains were properly issued.
The statements in the timber permit
report are replied to in detail. in a
statement prepared by Mr.. Dunn g
former employees, and certified by
State Auditor Iverson, who was Mr..
Dunn's deputy. This statement un.
dertakes to show in each case, either
that the state did not lose anything, or
else that the loss was no fault Of the
auditor.
Space does not permit a full analysis
of the reply today. Generally speak
ing, however, it is evident, that in the
cases where Mr.. Johnson is corrected
auditor s records, from which he made
the report. For instance, in the first
case mentioned, there was settlement
of $17,304 made by the efforts of the
pine land Investigating committee
There Is no record Of this payment In
the stumpage book, which is the lega!
record, and is supposed to contain al
estimates and settlements, in the proper
place, under the page given to each
tract Of state land.
AS to the second case, the public ex
aminer made the criticism that, the per
mit-holder having become bankrupt
some attempt should have been made tt
collect from the bondsmen. His inves
tigation showed that they were respon
sible. The answer dismisses the mat
ter with the mere statement that these
bondsmen were not financially respop
part of the auditor, for the permit had
been running only two monthe. when Mr.
Dunn went into office, and it was his
duty to see that all outstanding permits
were covered with valid bonds. Al
any rate, it would have been easy to gel
Judgment and test the financial re
sponsibility of the bondsmen. But ne
attempt was made.
State Always Loser.
One fact is noted in many of tn
cases. When timber was burned over
the state did not collect for it. I
should not have been a loss to tn
state, for when the permit was issue
the buyer became responsible for al
the timber on the land, whether Gu
or not, and gave bond to secure tn
state. The state did not have to de
liver the timber to the purchaser. I
was held at his risk. But the audito
did not enforce the permits. A pr
vate individual or corporation that ha
sold timber would expect the buyer t
pay for it, or failing that, his sureties
In all these cases, as handled by MI
Dunn, the loss fell on the state, an
never on the buyer. The law provide
that only such timber shall be sold as
liable to waste by fire or wind. The ir
tention is to get this timber cut, and t
relieve the state of the risk of Loss
The buyer assumes responsibility, and
bound under surety to pay the stat
for all Of it. Under Mr.. Dunn's mar
agement, when the timber was burne
or stolen, the state, and not the buye,
stood the loss.
Public Examiner johnson was see
this morning in regard to Mr.. Dunn
reply. He said he had not had time t
Honfinuad IN F1avanfh pooa