The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-08-10
May RESULT in
Change OF Laws
AGITATION OVER THE ALLEGED
MISDEEDS OF LUMBERMEN
CHARGE THEFT
PRESENT RULES OBSOLETE
BUYERS OF STATE TIMBER BE-
LIEVE THEY ARE BEING U.s.
ED FOR POLITICS SAKE

LlENE IHE1 AXE BElNU US-
ED FOR POLITICS SAKE
St. Paul, August 10.-If there is
madden set of fellows in the state
than the lumbermen then you'll have
to find them. Their grievances are
the charges and insinuations now be-
ing circulated regarding wholesale
thefts in the shape of trespass and
tempered measurements which, &C
cording to the city press, have re-
suited in the loss of thousands of dol
lars to the state. One story intimated
that recent forest fires in the north
ern part of the state were due to the
activity of certain lumber companies
who desired to cover up the past state
timber thefts and at the same time
create hazard that would compel
the placing of coveted state timber on
the market. 1t later developed that
the fire swept territory had been cut
over and what state timber remained
was under contract. The lumbermen
feel they are being used for advertis-
ing purposes for the benefit of others.
Because Of acknowledged irregulari-
ties of the past and the fortunes piled
UP by certain men whose activities
have been confined to the purchase
and cutting Of state and government
timber, the average taxpayer is in
clined to believe almost anything of
those concerned in reducing Minneso-
ta's visible supply of timber. 1t is
case Of giving dog bad name-the
thing sticks. Of late years, however,
there has been a marked change for
the better and those lumbermen who
honestly try to carry out their con-
tracts resent the insinuations in
dulged in. They declare that they are
without foundation. If the truth is
to be told, there are more failures
than successes in the lumber business
and this particularly refers to pur-
chase and cutting of state timber. To
the failures the cry of fraud is partic-
ularly irritating, hence the i'll feeling.
That the next legislature will be ask
ed to pass on the matter is certain.
Commenting further on the state
timber controversy it is declared that
the laws regulating the sale and dis
posal of timber are ancient and that
the method of scaling is archaic. 1t is
alleged that men are employed by the
state as scalers and estimators who
have absolutely no knowledge of the
work One lumberman tells of the
employment of a scaler whose pre-
vious activities were limited to sort
ing clothes in a laundry. Another
source of trouble is the sale of state
timber under one auditor and its
measurement under another. The two
do not agree. This, l am told, is
largely the basis of the present con-
troversy. In the sale of small lots OF
timber former State Auditor lverson
allowed certain concessions and now
State Auditor Preus demands the full
pound of flesh. Undoubtedly he is
right in his contention that a foot is
a foot. What is needed is a complete
revision of the laws covering the sale
and cutting of state timber and the
centering of its control and supervls-
ion in the hands of one department,
instead of scattering the job between
several, which is now the case. A de-
partment of public domain is needed.
The chief clerkship of the next
house of representatives is going to be
some bone of contention when that
body meets. Already candidates are
preparing for the fray and stiff fight
is expected. Oscar Arneson, now
prominently connected with the state
auditors office and a former clerk OF
the house, is generally believed to be
preparing to go after his old job, but
from all accounts he is going to have
strong opposition in the candidacy of
Asa Wallace, the well known Sank
Centre publisher and at one time as
sistant state fire marshal. That Mr..
Wallace has consented to the use of
his name is not known, but friends
are boosting his cause just the same.
State Auditor Preus, it is understood,
is willing to allow Mr.. Arneson to go
after his old job, he announcing that
he will lend his chief clerk to the
house if it thinks his services and ex-
parience are necessary. Other possible
candidates are being mentioned, but
the two named have the spotlight just
new. >A,
>-.l--- ,sTsP,s-
Any troubles or worries that oGv-
ernor Burnquist may have are just
now entered on the Iron Range,
where a miners strike is in progress
Last week the governors connection
with the strike was made somewhat
embarrassing by the report from
Washington, made by certain labor
propagandists, that his excellency was
giving the strikers the worst of it
The intimation was that the Steel cor
poration was being favored. That thu