The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-10-22
Rs:1 Ii rREsPAss CLAIMS.

RIDICULOUS TRESP4SS CLAIMS
Two years ago, in his opening
speech of the campaign at Red Wing,
GovernorJ ohnson made some ridicu-
lous claims with reference to trespass
committed on state lands. At that
time he claimed that he was instru-
mental in turning into the state treas
ury many thousands of dollars for
trespass committed under the former
state auditor, and that hundreds of
thousands of dollars more would be
collected. We proved by statement
over the state auditors signature,
dated Oct. p, 1906, that the total
amount collected for timber cut in
trespass prior to 1905 was So, sl9.67,
and it was through no fault of Audi
tor Dunn that that trespass was not
collected during his term of Office
the fault lay with the attorney gen.
erals Office.
In his keynote speech at Monte
video last month Governor Johnson
said:, 1.-THE timber trespass collec-
tions alone amount to 1922, OO0."
The state auditor is the bookkeeper
Of the state and he has an exact
record of every dollar paid into the
state treasury. Here is an extract
from statement issued by State
Auditor Iverson under date of Octo-
Der Is, 1908.
"1n answer to your second ques-
ton it appears by the records of this
department that the payments into the
state treasury on account of timber
trespass upon state lands from Jan.
l., 1905, to the present time is
SCI, 9O9.24. All of the above collec-
tions are for timber cut without
authority.
sin addition to the above collec-
tons, during the past two years we
have collected S13, 500 on account of
short scale made by the surveyor
general, that is, the timber had been
regularly sold, but through error, Or
otherwise, the amount of the: timber
cut was found to be more than was
shown by the surveyor generals re-
port, and this sum of sl3, 500 was col
lected. 80
"You further asked how much of
the amount collected was for eases
pending at the time of the inaugura-
ton Of. Governor Johnson, January,
1905? I find that S7,1O9 was col
lected from cases which we're pending,
that is, where the trespass had been
detected and demands made, but ST.
Element not yet effected.". a: Il
Further. comment is hardly neces-
sary. Auditor VERSIONS statement
shows that the total amount collected
for trespass on state lands since Mr..
Johnson became governor is s15.-
4O9.24, of which trespass 1858, 3OG01
was committed under his administra-
ton, and only S7,1O0.23 for trespass
committed prior to his administration,
which amount would have been col
lected if he never had been governor.
The most charitable construction that
could be placed upon Governor John
sons ridiculous statement is that he
did not know what he was talking
about. 1t would not be polite sor
permissible to accuse the governor; of
the state and a presidential pos
sibility in the remote future of DELHI
crate Misrepresentation. There is
just about as much foundation for
Governor Johnson's other pretentious
claims contained in his keynote speech
as there is for his trespass claims.
Governor johnson is entitled to
first place as the great American
claimant.
ST4TE BORROWS S1,OOO,0oO.
In faring head lines the St. Paul
Dispatch of the 18th inst. announces,
big Loan at Low Interest. State