166 



shall be kept of all receipts and expenses, which account shall be 

 audited by the Comptroller, and a general summary therein shall be 

 reported annually to the Legislature." Was that section of this 

 statute in the minds of the commissioners; did it make it incumbent 

 upon the Comptroller to furnish that summary of the finances of the 

 forest commission ? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. And that report in each one of these State reports that we have 

 here; I offer these reports without stopping to read over each one of 

 them, that that section of the law in every instance has been complied 

 with by the Comptroller of the State of New York ? 



Mr. Adams. — Is that a State report of the forest commission ? 



Mr. Anibal. — No, that is a set of the^Comptroller's reports. I have 

 marked each one on the inside and on the outside of the package 

 with my own name. Now, it offer in evidence right in this connec- 

 tion the reports each year of the forest commissioners to the Legis- 

 ture, also including the special report in reference to the Adirondack 

 park, and the proposed bill or law that was introduced to your body 

 and of which you are members. 



Chairman Ryan.- — The clerk will take charge of these documents. 



Mr. Anibal. — We offer these specially wishing to read from these 

 books and call the committee's attention specially that in the judg- 

 ment of the commission and in the judgment of counsel employed 

 here, that very section of the statute has been substantially complied 

 with by the forest commission in making those annual reports to the 

 Legislature. Now, I will have this book of minutes and will ask Mr. 

 Basselin to turn to page 80 in this book of minutes, which is of the 

 date of January 31, 1889, if you will see there what it says, gentlemen 

 of the committee yourselves, it particularly refers to this Everton 

 Lumber Company transaction of which we have heard so much about. 

 Will you read the whole of the proceedings ? " The proposition of 

 the Everton Lumber Company, of Albany, for ap exchange of lands 

 was considered and passed upon it for after consideration until the 

 next meeting; the president of the company notified to be present 

 with maps and plans and propositions in detail." 



I call your attention to the next- date on page 82, of February 12, 

 1889, so you see tMs Everton Lumber Company had sent in this propo- 

 sition to exchange lands more than two years ago. 



"Proposition by the Everton Lumber Company, Henry Patton 

 president, for the exchange of lands were discussed but laid upon the 

 table, the commission agreeing that it is much against their, inclination 



