The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-07
OPPOSES REPEAL
OF TIMBER i LAW
FORMER REGISTER OF LAND OF.
FICE EXPLAINS MEASURE.
Duluth Man Says People Of Northern
Minnesota Should Take Immediate
Steps to Prevent Proposed Action on
Law that Is for the Poor Man aud
Gives Reasons Why It Should Re
main in Force.
Special to The Journal.

= E..-
Duluth, Mimi, March StT.-For nearly nine
years William d. Culkin has been register of
the United States land office at Duluth and
during that time he has had probably as good
an opportunity to observe the workings of the
United States land laws as any man living
Moreover he has the trained legal mind that can
consider the subject judicially. He has always
refrained from giving utterance to his opinions,
believing that his official position might cause
his attitude to be misjudged. Today he is out
of office, however, and he places himself strong
ly on record against the repeal Of the timber
and stone law. There has been much agitation
for the removal from the statute books of this
law on the ground that great deal of fraud
has been perpetrated under it. This Mr. Gull
kin answers, and points out that it is the poor
mans law. He says:
''steps should be taken by the people Of north
ern Minnesota to impress on the minds of their
representatives in both houses of congress the
fact that the repeal of the timber and stone
act is not desired by the people Of this section
1t is one of the most meritorious land laws on
the statute books, and its repeal would be a
blow to the development Of this part Of the
state. ..~ '@ ...E -E=. g-F9 Vs.
Reason for Laws Appeal.
ut Is essentially poor mans law and gives
the northern pioneer chance to get on in the
world, being one small arecompense to him for
his work in developing a new country Any
one who investigates the matter will find that
the law is being taken advantage Of not by the
dishonest, but in fact by the best class of our
people. Farmers. mechanics business men, edi-
tors. bankers, clergymen and people Of other
worthy callings invest their savings in land
| under this law and at once begin to pay taxes
on the land they buy. 80 - 81, - . r
at is true that there has been fraud under
this law, but that is true Of every law ever
heard Of The fact remains, however, that as
the stone and timber law is now administered
fraud has been almost entirely eliminated. Such
fraud may be found is merely sporadic, not
general. Fraud arises not from bad laws, but
from lax or corrupt administration. 49,.
'No has advanced as yet a plausible
reason why this benefcent statute should be re-
pealed. One idea advanced Is that the lands
| should be reserved for shomesteads. But some
of land is of such character that it is
| not taken homesteads. Our best lands are
now honlesteaded. - .-
"Why segregate 100000 or more acres Of
government land to be added to the gloomy
| unproductive wastes now held by the state
| Why not get these lands the tax rolls to aiG
in upbuildng the northern counties?
| at is true that spectators in scrip would
| benefit by the repeal. Certainly these specu
| lators, who usually get something for nothing
| from the government, are not its favorites. A
| the same time they are the only ones who
would reap a profit from its repeal. It would
be a wrong to the people and to the towns
villages, school districts and counties OF tn,
northern country, the very interests which ths
proposed repeal is mistakenly supposed t,
| serve =. ''.