The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-01-15

uoAooy 1oLV-r 1ToQu0uC changes OF MClmD6ltS 0Pt-
rmenta to the public interests the experience de-
rived from one or two terms, as now limited,
being Inadequate to the best discharge duty even
by officers otherwise fully competent.
From the many exhibits in the examiners report
the following information is conde sed respecting
the monied institutions in the State:
,n. No; Of Capital set..i and ~
state banks ID $1,l2l,762 $1,647,776
savings Danks. ~ 1869 645528
Raaas banks 81 S 1895 9S7
Total. ......1o2 szss7725 ss,78e, 7e1
-Four only have capital.
The examiner speaks in complimentary terms of
the generally sound condition of our State banks
and the judicious care usually shown in their man.
agement which ne ascribes less to any legal regula
lions under existing crude provisions OF law than to
wholsome practices selfimposed under the dictates
of enlightened policy. The various suggestions of
the examiner made after due investigation of the
many objects OF his inquiry hardly fail to COM
mend themselves to your favorable attention. If he
had done nothing but reveal the exposed condition
OF the public funds resulting from the neglect Of
county officers to deposit adequate official bonds as
required by law, it would have fully established the
importance of the Office and more than justified its
cost. Upon investigation it was found that only
fyseven of the lao bonds of county treasurers and
auditors required to be deposited in the Office of
the secretary OF state had been filed there according
to law AS result of the persistent efforts of the
examiner these delinquent bonds were finally fur
| nlshed, but only thirry-two of the entire number
proved to be legally and technically correct. The
others found to be defective in varions degrees
from condition of informality to that of utter
worth1essness. Those from twenty-five counties
named penal sums less in amount than the balances
held on the LIST of June by the officers giving them
respectively.
The correction of these evils by requiring the sub
stltutlon of improved and increased bonds, being
beyond the power of the examiner, the remedy must
be supplied by prompt and adequate provision of
law. The aggregate amount Of money passing
through the hands of county treasurers approx
lmates the sum of 900 annually, and in view of
the lax precautions for the safety of these funds and
| the crude methods by which accounts are kept in
most OF the counties, it is complimentary to gen.
eral character of county ias that there has been
SO little maleasance in office. Nor is the creation of
the office OF public examiner necessary imputation
upon the motives of these officers. Conduct which
leads to embezz ement and defalcation in the major
ity OF cases begins in ignorance rather than in in
tentiona' criminality.
Whether therefor the protection of the public the
good of the erring official or the avoidance of public
scandal be considered the importance of that careful
supervision which ensures correct basis and honest
beginning of official life becomes alike obvious. The
danger lies especially in the first msstep which, ig-
norantly taken and thoughtlessly repeated, imper-
ceptahly grows into such startling temptation as to
DEFY the power of successful resistance. It s
ly too much to that the information impaired and
the correctives applied by the public examiner have
already been the means of strangling number of
lncipient embezz!ements, while the more matured
county auditor, and by the recent examination of
the accounts of the hospital for the insane whether
resulting from unconscious or intentional mscon-
duct. illustrates the wisdom Of the legislature in the
timely creation of this Office. In view of the work
already accomplished and the enlarged usefulness
to be expected from the further operation of the law
cannot doubt that you will support it with such ad-
d1tona provisions as may be needed to subserve its
highest purposes. In consequence Of the late hour
at which the act became law no appropriation was
made for its practical enforcement, commission
rectify which your early action is solicited The re-
port of the Senate special committee for the nvesti
| CATION OF the management of the insane hospital
611Iy hoA
| RRAINERD BRANCH LANDS.
By the act of March LIST, 1877, providing for the
compet on of the called extension lines of the St.
Paul Pacific railroad, various duties imposed
| upon the executive respecting the adjustment of
certain claims incurred for railroad construction
and also Of claims of settlers who had made prior
hings and improvementssin 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 consideration, filed their statement
as required in the State auditors Office on the 9th
of February last, showing claimants to the number
OF sxty-six and total allowance of S493, 228. 10.
For the payment of the claiu ascertained ana In
accordance with said act, caused sale by auction
to be made of such selections had been made
from the lands which had already been certified to
the State. Prior to the published day of sae writ
of Injunction was served upon for its prevention
upon the complaint of the Western Railroad COM
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.
eral, to disregard the injunction and proceed with
| the sale. ,f -,
me for the protection of the bona tide 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 H. Nichols ESQ.,.
whose former service in government land off
rendered him familiar with the laws and rulings gov
erning the disposition of the public lands. For the
held in close proximity to their homes for the hear
ing of their claims. and ampe time and opportunity
were afforded for full of facts by both
claimants and contestants. thorough investigation
was thus made Of each land claim, and upon due
consideration 1853 of them allowed in whole or
in part, covering ls,04647 acres, descriptions CT
which, together with the names of the persons re-
spettivey entitled to acquire the same, were en-
hraced in the deed of REIMBURSEMENT 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 it's last session made provision
for supply Of seed grain to the several counties
which had suffered from grasshopper ravages during
tho preceding year. The sum of $4,000 was sp-
proprated for this urpose, and prompt action was
taken to comply with the several Iuirements of the
law within the brief period between the passage of
the act and seeding time OF early spring. Thirty
four coun les awaited themselves of the opportunity
Afforded furnishing al aggregate of 6O26 applicants
desiring various kinds Of grain sufficient to seed
total of 223727 The distribution afforded an
average of sonnet ling less than 50 per cent. of the
several amounts applied for. The practical operation
of the law proved universally satisfactory, and there
is no reason to doubt that great and deserved assist
ance was rendered to destitute sections which had
been repeatedly subjected 10 the insect scourge as
to be disabled from helping themselves, while the
general good resulting from the lner sure is shown
by the fact that the most of the counties receiving
aid are those which largely ed the destructive
bightof the past season and produced the best
in point Of quality aid quantity; the benefits to in
dlviduals thus speedily contributed to the common
prospe ty by the increase and improvement of the
total product. Complaints having been received that
the grain raised from seed furnished by the State was
in some instances being levied upon and forcby re-
moved by creditors, suggest that the existing law
relative to attachment aud replevln be amended for
the better protection of tue interests of the State
CAPITOL EXTENSION.
At the last session Of the legislature an appropria-
ton of $14No was made for the purpose of erecting
addition to the western wing of the State capitol
and rearranginx the apartments therein. The com
modious chamber in which you are assembled aud
the convenient committee rooms adjacent, as well rs
the increased accommodations beneath, bear witness
that the objects for which the appropriation was
made have been accomplished. The enlargement
and changes thus made afford additional room long
needed In some of the departmental and ia gratify-
Ing to ht8t0 that tho8o fat