Yellowstone monitor. [volume] (Glendive, Mont.) 1905-1928, 1909-02-25
T0OLE DEFENDS
BOARDS ACTION
Sale Of Timber Lands was Wholly
for Benefit of the State.

Helena, Feb. 18.-With the testi:.
monv today of Henry Neill, state land
agent. Secretary of State Yoder,
Edward Dickey of Kalispell and a
statement by former Governor Toolo,
the investigation of the state land
business by a legislative committee
was brough, to a close.
Mr.. Neill testified as to the value
Of the timber lands and told how the
estimates on the FIathead lands were
made. He said in reply to questions
that in the IL years he had been con-
nected with the state land office he had
no knowledge of any improper conduct
on the part of any member of the
board
Secretary Yoder testified in regard
to land sales and Edward Dickey ex-
planned an interview he gave in Kalis-
pei! concerning an alleged whitewash
by the legislative committee.
Governor Toole' statement was very
lengthy. He said that in view Of all
the conditions surrounding the situa-
ton in Flathead county it was the de-
liberate judgement Of the board it
should sell the lands and that it was a
plain duty to do so. In part of his
statement the former governor said:
''Nothing has transpired to shake
my judgment in the wisdom Of those
transactions. The prices obtained
were far in excess of the estimate Ct
high-class Inspector, who spent
months in the field estimating these
particular properties, under express
Instructions, given in writing. The
transactions were large and likely to
attract public attention, and to avoid,
as we thought, possible criticism, on
account of their magnitude, the prices
made for these timber lands were ar
bitrarily increased $40, 900 or $50, 900,
as | recollect it, over the timber
agents estimates.
These are the facts, and if the
board is to be subject to censure, let
1t be set down to it's credit that it at
least thought it was serving the state
we'll and uninfuenced by any other
consideration than desire to do its
whole duty to the state of Montana.
For myself, I felt sure that we com
piled in all respects with the spirit.
If not the letter of the law.
Il ought to say word further CON
corning the rumors which have reach
ell you respecting the interity OF the
board action in these transactions,
and do not hesitate them as inven-
tons. pure and simple. While these
rQmors lost nothing by being oft re-
peated, | never doubted that when
submitted to the light Of Investigation,
they would disappear and the truth
would be established here as it was al
kalispell last July.
1t is true that the boa I'd wanted
more money and got it, but got it fe1
the state. From these three companies
1t got, as I have said, $40, 900 or SIS, 0oo(
more than Bowser's estimate and
holds the state treasurer receipt fol
The same. Subsequent events have in
ehned me to believe Witness Prodgel
must have misunderstood McRae wher
he told him that Poole, and not Toole.
mad demanded more timber than hi,
associates in the division Of territory
Poole vas representing his compan.
and negotiating for in. What woul'
would be creditable in him as hi
eompany's representative would, D
course be resrehensible in a member D
the board representing the state.