The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-12

The Office of the Railroad Commissioner. as
present constituted, Is not of sufficient ben 4
tit or importance to justify its cost. Under
lie amended law OF the last session, it contem-
hates nttie more than the collection of rail-
DAD statistics, to which end the expense is dis
roportionately large. s':.7 =, : -, ::
II confined to this, the duty might as ,ad-
antageonslY be performed BY the Commits
Toner Of Statistics, whose powers could be
nlarged for the purpose with considerable
n2ual saving to the treasury. But in my
he Railroad Commissioners should be materi-
lily enlarged. =. J,I e.,
III addition to his existing power to inspect
ne financial condition of railroad companies.
le should be invested with summary authority
condemn bridges and other insecure struc-
ures, as we'll as to correct such abuses as,
rom the public emergency, cannot await
emedy by the slower process of the courts
should be made his duty to maintain a con-
-tant surveillance over the condition of the
eVeral tracks. connections, highway cross.
ngs, and other works and appurtenances,
With view to securing the public safety and
Convenience, and he should be clothed with
lower 1or these purposes to summon compe-
ent engineers and other experts to his aid
When necessary. The disastrous wreck of the
abroad bridge at Brainerd last summer. strik-
ngly exhibits the necessity for supervision
md prompt exercise of corrective power.
Moreover, with lapse of time, unless sea-
enable precaution be taken, it may not be
unreasonable to expect q repetition of acct
tents OF this kind, as much of the railroad
work III this State was constructed, perhaps
necessarily, with less regard to its durability
han to the exigencies Of speedy completion.
Unless the Office be so changed in its scope and
enlarged in it's powers as to subserve more
)bvions public use, recommend that it be
abolished as needless expense.
NEW AppoRT1oNMENT.
Under the constitution, a new apportion-
rent Ut the members of your two houses; based
lpon the recent State census, will deyolve
Upon you. The proper performance of this
mp rtant duty will involve patient and dis
passionate consideration. The theory which,
.srnment, devolves all practical legislation
Upon two representative bodies, doubtless
:ests upon the assumption ttat they act as
;beck upon each other, and especially that by
eason OF the dignity and experience resulting
rom the longer duration of service III the
smaller body, that wing Of the Legislature
should act as conservative restraint upon the
more popular impulses of the larger branch.
Whether or not such theory receives support
n practice, am unable to see why consistency
should not be lent to it so far as to make
greater numerical difference between the two
houses. But without reference to any such
difference, the relative policy of large or small
representative bodies may be deemed as yet an
open question. At least the advantages of one
over the other are not so pronounced as to
Justify the commentator of either for un-
questioned adoption. Under these circum-
stances, the question of economy assumes
prominent attitude.
In the New England States, as is we'll known,
very large representative assemblies are en-
ployed, and it is believed with generally ex-
cellent results. :"
Upon the assumption that large bodies are
less subject to corrupting influences than
smaller ones, both of your houses were con-
siderably increased in numbers by the appor-
tionment of five years ago. l am not aware
the change. In this problematical state Of the
question the necessity for retrenchment would
warrant numerical reduction OF both houses
at all events, am decidedly of the convic-,
ton that neither should be enlarged:
If, pursuant to the original theory Of yonr
representative structure, the House should be
retained at about its present size, and the
both policies alluded to would receive coun-
tenance, while the question of economy would
not be wholly ignored. -
The present annual cost Of the legislativ We
session about S70 900 constituting for the larg-
est item in the ordinary running expenses Of
the State. The subject is commended toyour
careful consideration. :3o,7
NECESSITY FOR RETRENcBMENT.
have given prominence to the necessity for
retrerchment both in the interest OF simple
prudence and upon the broader consideration
that couples duty with opportunity.
believe that a nobler appreciation of the
exceptional blessings we enjoy is shown by
iudicious care OF what we possess than by Law
ish expenditures that draw upon the future.
A consideration of still more practical ur-
gency is the fact, which learn from the State
Auditor, that the receipts from railroad, earn
ings the past year fell about 81, 900 short of
those Of the preceding year, and that tha total
tax collections, owing chiefly to- the smaller
levy and decreased amount derived from de-
linquent taxes, are about $4,000 less than
those of the preceding year. In view Of these
facts, and impressed as am with the import
ance Of keeping your, appropriations strictly
within your resources, recognize the prac-
tice of persistent retrenchnent as duty con-
-nected with due regard to the preservation
of the public credit, with the maintenance Of
those educational, charitable and reformatory
institutions which attest the highest claim OF
christian civilization, and with the space which
query worthy mo}iqe impels US to take in the
propet celebration Of the approaching one:
hundredth anniversary Of our National
eral objects will be necessary, but it is diff
cult to see how they can be made consistently
with adherence to restricted appropriations,
unless the needed amounts can be saved by
curtailment of the ordinary expense hereto
fore incurred. -
THE CENTENNIAL.
It is difficult, in my judgment, 0 exagger-
ate the importance to Minnesota of a full pre-
sentation, at the Centennial Exposition COM
mencing in May next of her varied and ample
products. OF the event itself it is no exag-
Reration to say that it will, and onght to prove
to Americans, at least, the most significant oc.
currence of the century. Other nations have
had industrial expositions evidencing the
achievements in art and science, and at