Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-01-16


filings and improvements.in good faith upon the
lands pertaining to such roads. The commission
provided for the examination Of the claims of rail-
road creditors, consisting Of the Governor attorney
general and railroad commissioner after repeated
Hearings and full confederation fled their statement
Is required tn the stste auditors Office on the 9th
OF FebruAty last, showing claimants to the number
Of sixty.six, ina total allowance of $493, 2281O
For the payment Of the claims ascertained and in
accordance with said act caused sale by auction
70 be made OF such selections "a had been made
from the lands which had already been certified to
the State. Prior to the published day of sale, writ
of injunction was served upon me for its prevention
pany the constructor of the railroad from Watab to
Brainerd, upon certain alleged grounds. Without
reference to the merits Of the controversy, which
were not . matter for my consideration, deemed it
my duty in pursuance Of well established executive
authority and upon the advice Of the attorney gen.
sral, to disregard the Injunction and proceed with
In the execution Of the difficult task devolved upon
mo for the protection Of the bona de settlers upon
the line of the road found it advisable to avail my
self Of the legal knowledge Of the attorney general
and Of the assistance OF Samuel Il. Nichols, Eaq.,
whoss former service IN e government land office
erning the disposition Of the public lands. For the
convenience Of the settlers frequent meetings we're
held In close proximity to their homes for the hear
were afforded for full presentation Of facts by both
claimants and contestants: thorough investigation
was thus made Of each land claim, snd upon due
u
In part, covering l9,046.47 acres, descriptions CT
which, together with the names of the persons re-
spectively entitled to acquire the same, were en-
braced in the deed Of relinquishment to the United
States In order to perfect the titles of the actual resi-
dents upon these lands as contemplated by the act
referred to.
The legislature at ifs last session made provision
for asupply of seed grain to the several counties
which had suffered from grasshopper ravages during
nNJon
propriated for this lurpose and prompt action was
taken to comply with the several requirements of the
law within the brief period between the passage of
the act and seeding tune Of early spring. Thirty
four counties availed themselves Of the opportunity
afforded, furnishing aggregate of 6,o26 applicants
desiring various kinds Of grain sufficient to seed
total Of 22s 7H acres. The distribution afforded
So 9a
Of the law proved universally satisfactory and there
is no reason to doubt that great and deserved assist
been repeatedly subjected to the insect scourge
to be disabled from helping themselves while the
general good resulting from the measures is shown
by the fact that the most of the counties
aid those which largely escaped the destructive
bghtof the past season and produced the best crops
in point Of quality and quantity; the benefits to in
prosperity by the increase and Improvement Of the
Total product. Complaints having been received that
the grain raised from seed furnished by the State
In some instances being levied upon and forcibly
moved by creditors, suggest that the existing law
relatiye to attachment and replevin be amended for
the better protection of the interests Of the State.
CAPITOL EXTENSION.
At the last session Of the legislature appropria
ton Of $14 900 made for the purpose of erecting
addition to the western wing of the State capitol
| and resrranginR the apartments therein. The COM
modious chamber in which you are assembled, and
the convenient committee rooms adjacent, well as
the increased accommodations beneath, bear witness
| that the objects for which the appropriation was
and changes thus made afford additional room long
needed in some of the departments; and it Is crafty
ing to state that these purposes have been attained
by expenditure strictly within the limits Of the
moderate sum set apart therefor.
L., BIENNIAL ELECTIONS.
j The constitutional amendment providing for bien-
NAL in lieu of annual sessions of the legislature will
| necessiate much adjustment of administrative ma
chinery to correspond Herewith. In efectng this,
great care will be required to include practical de-
tails of an essential nature pertaining to the several
| branches Of the government. The changes re-
quired and the examination necessarily given to the
subject, would to afford suitable opportunity
for the consideration of another question of i'm
portance. The extraordinary frequency of elections
| has long been deemed by rejecting men OF the
most rious evils pertaining to form of
| nent. The differing duration of our State Offices,
requiring elections to fill some of them annually, and
the different seasons in which township and munich
pal elections held leave intervals 80 short that
the public finds little repose from the distractions of
political warfare. The deleterious effect of these
constant disturbances is manifest. They unfav-
orabe to public order to the pursuit of private bust
ness and to the dspassionate discussion of questions
concerning the common welfare. They increase the
aversion to political duty entertained by orderly and
busy men through whose default bad men are elect
ed to Office; while the expenses attending such fire.
| quent elections entail heavy annual burden upon
the people. In view of these evisI suggest the in
quiry whether obvious public interest would not
be subserved by providing for such amendments to
the laws and constitution as wonld require biennial
elections only. For this purpose it would be neces-
sary to cause State elections to take place the
same year that in which members of Congress are
elected, which would conform to that In which mem
bers of the legislature bienniay chosen, and
also to the year in which the Presidential election
alternately takes place. If the terms Of the Offices of
clerk Of the supreme court and State auditor were
| and termination Of the several county Offices made
| uniformly to accord with those of State officers,
| biennial fall elections only would be necessary
throughout the State, except for judicial officers,
periods would in consequence, be properly further
| removed from detrimental political influences. In
order to free the matter from complications inhu-
enced by the interests of those already in Office, give
partial application Of the changes to all concerned,
| the proposed amendments might be made to take
effect at some convenient period in the future.
deem the matter worthy Of attentive examination
INTEREST RATES.
invite you to inquire whether the public welfare
does not demand reduction of the rate of interes
| authorized in this State. Whatever may be though
of the soundnsss of the principle upon which usury
laws are based 80 long such laws exist they shond
be amended often is required to the rates
to approximate at least to those of the natural Law OF
supply and demand.
Low rates of interest in my judgment increase the