The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-04-08
HEpplRL[R REPLIES
TO CHARGES MADE
BY FORMER DEPUTY
admits Number Ct
Statements But De-
mics Significance.
HIS SONS SALARY
Will All Go to His Son.-De-
MES Undertaking Laud
in His Home County,.
HIS SONS SALARY

Pierre, S. D.-State Land Com
missioner Iiepperle has given out an
answer to Ex-Deputy Hanson's
charges against the land department
in which he says that the resignation
of Hanson was asked for because he
was working against the best inter
ests of the state in that department
and Hepperle denies that Governor
tByrne had anything whatever to do
says that Hanson himself was re-
~sponsible for his resignation.
Hepperle admits the charge that
his o is drawing $40 per month
as a clerk in the department and is
getting but SIS of it personally, but
states that the balance is deposited
to the credit of the boy in a savings
deposit that he has received nc bene-
fit from it personally.
AS to the charge of keeping q
brother-in-law in the forest ranger
service he claims that he is employed
because of his efficiency, and on
recommendations of the forest rang
er to that effect and that the increase
lin salary mentioned is one which the
Legislature provided for all rangers
alike to place them on Il par with the
government rangers in like work.
He enters a general denial as to
the charges -of fayoritism in selling
lands and cites instances where he
asserts Hanson shifted valuations to
suit himself
Mi. Hanson states that am put
ting in moro time at my desk than
any of my predecessors ever did, by
taking care of the routine and detail
correspondence relating to trespass
cases etc. | wish to add here that
some of this time vas also used to
look over his daily work each day
Besides I collected over $4,000 in
trespass. money, during the two years
have been in office. This is more
than all the former wears since state
hood will show. Still the competent
Mr.. Hanson calls this wasting time,
Admits Wanting Expense :sfencN.-
LAS to asking amy OF my clerks
to sec their friends and speak a GOOD
word for House bill 211. this is true
except that / did not put such a vast
Importance to the bill as Mr.. Han
son would have the people believe
will say that / myself spoke to
only two or three members. This is
tho bill introduced by Hon. Albert
Dahl, and provided $50 per month
expense money to the constitutional
| officers.
"Mr. Hansen also states that one
of the forest rangers has nothing 10
recommend him for the position
more than that he is married 10
Mr.. Hepperle's sister. In reply to this
will state that Il report SHOWS
that this very ranger is one OF inc
best men We have, at least he mas ac-
complished more work in his dlstrlc'
than any of the others. In regard tc
his a l will say that he started IN
at SOS per month. On the recon-
mendation of the state forester ms
salary was made equal to that OF the
other rangers, SIS per month. VI
to July list, 1914, the state furnlshed
~horse-feed for the rangers horses
II was afterward thought best &c
allow each ranger 500 a year fol
horse feed, adding this amount te
his salary and requiring MN 10 pay
for his own horse-feed. This not only
applies to the ranger referred to ps
Mr.. Hanson, but applies to all o
them. The last legislature, on the
Recommendation of the state lores,
er and myself raised the sal
aries to s110O per year, winch y
the same as the United states so..
ernment rangers receive. inns VII
exnlain the three raises Of salary o
which MIR. Hanson speaks in ms iai
siied statement.
No Increase in Force.
"When l first took possession o
this office on March LIST, 1913,
naturally looked to him for informa
ton. as he was the deputy unde'
Mr.. Brinlker. Among the things
asked him was whether or not al
the clerks in the office at that I'm
'were required. He replied on yes
the work in the office is growing
right along and l think we will haV'
+ have one more mar before long.
Since that time the increase in TN
income of the department is abou
@S15O.OOO annually, but L have man
aged to get along with the same mum
her of clerks as we had OH March LIST
,I19l3, but Mr.. Hanson now claim
THAT we could have gotten aloni
nicely last winter with n les
iclerk. r.
.As to the retaining of $95 from
my sons salary i will say that thi'
lis the truth, and that the amount j
lplaced to his credit on savings de
post. Had Mr.. Hanson a guardian
likewise he could provide for hi
family nicely the necessaries of lif'
from the $135 per month which h
has drawn from the state for tn
last ten years. AS it is he not onl,
was unable to make both ends NEE
I'but used on top of the S135 pc
month all the money he could ge
from his friends. some of whom lait
claim to his salary warrant for Apri
fwhile Others ! am afraid will hav'
ito wait for a long time.
l. AS to Land Values.
"He accuses me of not taking hi
ADVICE in regard to appraising schoo
LANDS. In reply will "a that I.knoy
the gentleman too we'll by this TIM
80 49,, H., ,,. 80 y, ,,n ctpr lnt1 II