St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-07-24

nee IL seemed Inat all LHe pup
lie land had been exhausted
as thre had been timber, Oil
and mineral booms which
caused the entry Of almost
every acre Of available State
land within the State; but,
Notwithstanding this fact, with
my efforts, I have been able to
find other unapproved land
which was justly donated to
the State under the swamp
land Acts, and have succeeded
in getting it approved to the
State, just as in the Sabine Is
land instance, except that in
the case of the Sabine Islands
there was an effort on the part
Of the State of Texas to secure
this land, and I believe had it
not been for my efforts in the
matter that the State of Texas
would have had title to It to-
day.
@. S. What steps. if any.
have you taken to have dis
missed the pending Injunction
and mandamus suits against
your office instituted by Thorn
SIS j. Duggan in the Twenty
second Judicial District Court
on March %, 1907?
A. s. / have taken none. This
matter is entirely in the hands
of the Attorney General, the
legal adviser of the Register
of the Land Office, and steps
to dismiss the Injunction will
have to come from him.
@. 6. Did you have knowI-
edge Of the fact that the S12,-
978 deposit which accompa-
MED Duggan's application, and
which was deposited, BY or
der Of the Court, with a No
tary, subject to the orders OF
the Court and to the orders Of
the Register Of the State Land
Office in the matter Of Dug
cans application, had been
dissipated?
A. 6. / did not; the money
was paid in under the admins
tration Of my predecessor and
{ had nothing to dc with It.
q. 9. Have you, as a party
defendant in the Duggan suit.
taken any steps to call to the
attention Of the Attorney Cen
or the District Court. the
facts respecting the alleged
dissipation Of that deposit?
tAl z. Not Knowing any
about the deposit,
and not having made any
agreement with reference to
same, [ certainly have not had
any communication with the
Attorney General or District
attorney concerning it.
@. s. Have you withheld
the Governor or from the
Attorney General any facts in
your possession respecting the
matter which might be
of benefit to them in helpine
g preserve and protect the
states interest in the Sabine
lands?
A. 8. No: to the contrary. =
nave given the Attorney Gem
aral whatever information was
n my possession, and have had
10 interest in the matter other
nan to secure the title to the
state of Louisiana. Everv-
line that | went to Washing
on with reference to attemnf-
ng to have the title to these
.ands confirmed to the State
i Louisiana I SO informed the
governor and kept in touch
Elth him upon that phase Of
he matter.
Haye YOU, at any time, re-
'elved from Thomas r. Due
yan, or any other person IN
crested IN the Duggan app1i-
'atlon, any money or other
OF value, either in the
orm of travelling expenses.
'ampaign contributions, or
A. 9. No.
@. 10. Do you know VINO
lrafted or assisted in drafting
ne substitute for the Rives biI
.urlng the session of the Legis-
allure of 1914 which subsfi-
ute suddenly became Act
81 Of the Statutes Of 1914?
A. TO. My knowledge of the
Act referred to is about as fol-
oWs: Mr.. Rives of the House
ltroduced in that body a bill J,
! 1912, embodying certain
satures with reference to the !
Of this Act of
9O8. It passed, went to the
and failed to be-
ome a law for want of the :
.overnor's signature. The J
anne bill was reintroduced in !:
ae House by Mr.. Rives in !
IA. Mr.. Monk introduced q
LII OF similar report in the SEN !
te. When Mr.. Riyes hill wac {