The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-05

NJ. s. Earl, R. H. Jefferson and Will
/ liam G. Fraser, three republican men,
!; bers Of he public accounts committee,
/! submitted their minority report on the
| examination of the auditor 8 office to-
ss The report is dramatically Z opposed
| to the findings Of the rest ofnthe1 COM
mittee. It finds that the reports of
| Public Examiner johnson were correct,
! that the law was not complied with in
many camps, and that in some cases the
state loss by failure Of it's officers to
! enforce the law. The report recon-.
mends that the timber trespass and
! mineral lease reports be referred back
to the attorney general and the gov
(, ernor fol such action as they think
proper, with authority to employ neces-
sary assistants for litigation decided on.
On motion of Mr.. Carl, the report was
ordered printed in the house journal,
and it's consideration deferred until the
majority seport is taken up. Both will
be taken up together.
The majority members claim they
have pleC ges Of enough votes to adopt
their report, which is being urged as a
party measure and as salve for the
feelings of the late nominee for gov
ernor.
The nAnority report is brief and to
the poinG stating the case as follows:
Il, First-We diligently attended meetings
of the committee and in every case heard
the evidsnce submitted and from that
evidence we find as fact that the pub
lie examiners report as made to the gov
ernor is substantially correct. and that
the recol Is carryr out the criticisms made
by him.
Second-We find that in great many
instances the law, which required double
or treble amount Of damages to be col
lected from trespassers on state timber
land, has not been enforced. 49,
p Third-The law in regard to bark marks
for timber sold has in many Instances
not beea,l complied With.
Fourts.-The claim that the state has
suffered no loss by the noncompliance OF
the Ia win regard to trespasses upon state
land is not in our judgment borne out by
the record, and we are Of the opinion thai
the laws enacted by the legislature anc
signed by the governor are binding upor
all of the people of the state, and should
be- enforced by those who are elected tt
enforcC them.
Fifth-In conclusion we would recon
mend that these timber trespasses ant
mineral lease cases be resubmitted to the
governor and attorney general, with di
rections that they take such action in thu
premises as they in their judgment ma,
think best. and that these officers be au
thorized to employ such assistants t.
carry on such litigation as they may SCI
lit to institute. T.. In a number Of case
there has no double only been a technfca
violation of the law, and the state ha
suffered no financial loss, but in othe
cases we are Of the opinion that theh in
terest Of the school fund has suffered b.
lax enforcement of the law, hence we ar
Of the opinion that the law ENFORCING
power of the state should be asked t
take charge Of this whole matter.
o'Laughl1n Says He Didn't Sign.
M. J. OLaughlin, the democrati
member Of the committee, rose to
question Of personal privilege this morn
ing. He said that the newspapers ha
enormously reported him as signing tn
majority report on the investigation o
the state auditors office. He declare
he had not signed the report. T.. .:.> -.
P. E. Bowling, chairman Of the con
mittee, replied that Mr.. o 'Laughlin ha
moyed the adoption of the maierit
report and that his motion had bee
seconded by George H. Wyman. S:e: i
sHI move to strike out the Nor
amendment Mr.. O'Laughlin RESPOND
ed. ~ was tired of the whole thing
anxious to get rid Of the whole thing.
Chairman Bowling admitted ths
none Of the members Of the majorit
had signed the report. On the rollcal
he said, a majority had stood for tn
adoption Of the report Of the subcon
mittee. .r