Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1905-08-04
TIMBER TRfSPASSCASf
:8uckman Appears Before
the State Timber
Board

The following is from the st. Paul
Dispatch Of Wednesday evening:
Before the state timber board TO-
day, Congressinan G. B. Buckman, Of
Little Falls, declared that he did not
owe the state a cent because of tim.
ber trespass.
Il paid into the treasury of this
state q, O0O, and it was in full for
every bit Of trespass did," said
MI. Buckman to the board. 1T was
d, O0O more than really should have
paid. Mr.. Dunn demanded IS. 800. I
would not pay 1t, for it was not right.
Gov. Lind suggested compromise Of
a, 600. Mr.. Dunn agreed to that and
trouble
1T is true,'' added Mr.. Buckmau,
that I was triae slow in raging
the money, but I hold receipts for
the amount ana my conscience is
Clear
Congressman Ruckman was before
the board to see If he could not effect
q settlement with the board regarding
the suits for tresrsss now pending In
the courts. On the basis of treble
damages the amount asked for was a
VI AAe Al 0ACSoS W 4OV. WV, Uut. "0eu
the supreme court held that the penal
ty feature was outlaw ed, it dwindled
down to $50, 900. 1t was this suit,
for the original value Of the property,
that Mr.. Buckman wanted disposed
Of.
On Mr.. Buckman's declaration that
be did lot owe the state cent. Gov
Johnson remarked that it was simply
matter of veracity between Mr..
B1ckman and the state.
THE records here said Gov.
johnson, SAY you owe for timber
taken from the state lands, and you
say you have paid the amount. All
that | can see now lie that it IL mat
ter between you and the attorney
general. -
We'll. what l mean is that the
81. 600 paid covered everything. It
was q settlement in full, explained
Mr.. Buckman.
To begin with, Congressman Buck
man attacked the regularity OF the
scale, which he declared was not cor
rect. Cruiser Dedon, he said. had
made it, and it was Of general know.
ledge that Dedon was his, Buck
MANS enemy.
Why his letters show that said
Mr.. Buckman. He is quoted as say.
ing that he intends to punish me-
The claim for damages against Mr..
Buckman was on the basis Of $9 a
Thousand, log value, and be limited
broadly that, If the suit was pushed,
he would win It on the ground that it
was out Of reason.
"Why, the "a, 00O l paid the state
was secured from the sale Of two sec.
tions Of timber for which the Rat
Portage Lumber company paid me so
cents q thousand. stumpsge value.
That timber was nv own. I can show
lots Of ssles made in my country for
less than 81 q Thousand.
''AEain, added Mr.. Buckman, ''All
got for the logs taken FROM the state
land was trifle over IS thousand
And they were in the river. l paid
the state for them.''
The rrespass alleged to have been
done by Mr.. Buckman was in 1897-96
It was the subject of much discussion
in the late political unpleasantness
and formed q heavy portion Of the
IS. 7. johnson trespass Investigation.
The board today refused to take any
action, except to hear Mr.. Buckman' q
explanation. It was referred to the
attorney general. The fact that Mr..
Buckman paid 81, 600 is noted in the
records but the legal department re-
fuses to acknowledge it az q settl .
ment In full.