15 



A. "Well, I can't define it just now ; I know, but I can't give it to 

 you in words. 



Mr. Anibax. — I suppose he nieans, as you are aware, that they were 

 bonds given by purchasers of those lands from the State — bonds 

 given in payment of those lands, and then they were afterwards sold. 



Q. In that way they derived title ; my question was, whether you 

 understand that these lands largely came through tax title ? 



A. I think the larger proportion of them do. 



Q. It was the policy of the State, you understood, and you were 

 charged with the duty of carrying out that policy, that more lands 

 were to be acquired in that way? 



A. The policy of the State when ? 



Q. At the time you were appointed to take office, and the policy of 

 the State since that time to acquire more and more land through tax 

 sales ? 



A. At the time when we came into office the policy of the State was 

 to get rid of the land, as I understood it, as much as they could. 



Q. That is in 1885? 



A. That is before 1885; in 1883, as I understand it, the sales of land 

 by the State — 



Q. (Interrupting.) You are wandering away from my question. 



Mr. Fibeo. — I submit hd is answering the question. 



Mr. Adams. — I repudiate all that; I ask him if at the time he was 

 appointed to. this office he understood the policy of the State was to 

 acquire more and more land through tax sales ? 



Mr. Fieko. — Now, he tells you what the policy was. 



Chairman Ryan. — Let the witness answer. 



Mr. Adams. — He was charged with the duty of carrying out the 

 policy which was defined. 



The Witness.— I can , only answer as I did before; before the 

 creation of this commission — » 



Mr. Adams. — (Interrupting.) — I object to that. 

 ' Mr. Fieeo. — That is the question the chairman has ruled the 

 witness can answer; I would like to know what the counsel wants; it 

 is a direct answer to the question. 



Mr. Adams. — I do not propose to be put off; I will restate the 

 question. 



Mr. Fiero. — I only want you to abide by the ruling. 



Mr. Adams. — My question has been and is, when he came into office 

 did the witness not understand that it" was the policy of the State to 

 acquire more and more lands in the Adirondack region through tax 



