Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-10

to approximate at least to those OF the natural law Of
supply and demand.
Low rates Of interest In my Judgment increase the
wealth of the State, stimulate the development of
agricultural, manufacturing and commercial indus
tries and enlarge the field of employment for both
capital and labor while high of interest have
the contrary effect and tend to discourage enter
prise and to encourage men to loan their capital
ffther than employ it in the active pursuit Of wealth
experience during the past ten years has taught
those engaged In promotion of the various industries,
that our commercial and manufacturing pursuits
10 De conducted in direct competition with those of
our sister States where the rates Of interest are
much less.
am satisfied that law reducing interest rates as
much at least as to correspond with the legalizsd
rates Id neaghborng States, would result to the adj
vantage OF all concerned. The resumption of specie
payment as the settled practice of the government,
and the low scale of values which must prevail from
the sounder basis upon which business is conducted,
must render small margin of profits inevitable in
all branches of business, and there is every reason
why the price of money should share in the common
reduction.
AGRICULTURE.
During the first half of the growing season the
past year the unvarying report from all parts Of the
State that the prospects for wheat never so
good nor for corn SO poor. as appearances then
held forth. The result In two-thrds of our titled
area was the poorest wheat crop and the finest
yield ever known in the State. Nothing could more
emphahcally Illustrate the uncertain promises of
agriculture, nor more pontedy condemn the folly
TO limiting its varied chances to the precarious
profits of single product. This is further shown
by instances which have come to my knowledge
where men heavily pressed with debt had fortunately
resisted the prevailing excitement for wheat and de-
voted half their prepared land to corn, with result
ing good profits and happy rescue from bankrupt
cy. 1t is indeed the opinion of observing men of
longest experience that notwithstanding our peculiar
adoption to wheat growing and the suppositon that
latitude is too high for the most successful pro-
ducon Of Indian corn the latter nevertheless the
more certain and profitable crop when the average
results OF several years are considered At all events
it is the part of wisdom to try both and to still fur
ther employ the resources which, beyond those of
all other pursuits give agriculture assurances
against needless failure. The profit resulting from
the transportation of neat cattle across the ocean
and the extending facilities by which the farming
products of this country coming into successful
competition with those of Europe, should encourage
advantages.
WHEAT INSPECTION.
In view of the excitement recently created regard
ing the inspection and grading of wheat, 1 suggest
that commission be created by your honorable
body to take the whole matter into special consider
alton. The peculiar nature of the injury inflicted
the occasion for much complaint with the classical
ton of the product and the manner of testing its
grades, and inasmuch as serious charges have been
repeatedly made of dishonest practices by wheat
buyers to the injury of producers, it is important
that thorough and impartial investigation of the
matter by men representing all the parties interested
De maze without unnecessary delay.
INSOLVENCY.
Since the repeal of the national bankrupt law many
complaints have been made respecting the injustice
attending assignments by bankrupts. By the collu-
sion of the insolvent with two leading cred-
tors claimed, the assets of the debtor are fre-
quently sequestered and absorbed to the injury of
the mass of creditors, among whom the effects
should be equitably divided In my Judgment the
wrongs inflicted by such practices demand the enact
ment of law whicb shall provide alike for all credi
tors, and strictly prohibit the preference of cred-
tor over another.
FRONTIER MATTERS.
The absenca legal nrcvis;on eo4,,oI ous.-
1Zat1on OF counties which have been established and
named by the act OF the legislature and the resulting
confusion Irregularities and contests occasloned by
premature efforts to create county governments
have been referred to in former messages. The
questions raised in the recent canvass of election re-
turns as well as the danger of future complications
growing out of the doubtful legal status of these
counties emphasize the importance of timely RENE
dial legislation. AS more or less irregularty attend
ed the organization of many of the counties,
suggest that tn various proceedings had in relation
to them unde go caretni examination with view to
such legal1zing ction as may be found necessary,
and that provision be made for the uniform and reg
ular organization of counties in future
II Legislative discrimination concerning localities
be ever ustifabe it should surely favor rather than
oppose the interests OF those frontier sections which
suffer the unavoidable disabilities incident to their
exposed situations. The failure of the legislature
| to make the required apportionment following the
census OF 1875 was serious injustice to the newer
counties in depriving them of the increased repre-
sentauon to which they entitled by their rapid
growth OF population; and if anything properly
be done at the present session to make amends for
that injustice by facilitating the prompt apportion-
ment to follow the federal census of 1885, trust it
| may not be withheld.
Information has reached me that in some of the
southwestern counties in consequence of the failure
OF the past years crops following the impoverished
| condition resulting from successive prasshopner
raids the people will be unable TO meet the REQUIRE
ments OF the seed grain law and suggest the pro-
priety OF granting further time to enable them to
meet their engagements. forced repayment at
this time would defeat the original purpose of the
Law, by deprivlng the most necessitous Of the seed
grain needed for their coming seasons crops.
Another matter affecting the practica interests Of
the frontier people deem OF sufficient Importance
to require attention. Considering the similar topos
raphy and identity of interests marking our wide
prairie areas the multiplication of small counties
burdens their Inhabitants unnecessarily with the
costly machinery of government. Large counties
! IKE Kandyohi stearns and Otter Tail, while sufi-
cieny convenient to all parts of their territory for
the transaction of business with the seat of govern
ment distribute the burdens of taxation upon larger
populations and thus lessen their hardship upon in
dividuas. In the considerations touching the sala
ries of county officers and the expensive buildings
and provisions required for the care of county re-
cords the advantages which large counties afford over
of attention.
The improvement of the connecting channels and
increase OF harbor facilities for transportation upon
the great lakes are demanded by the rapid increase
! OF their trade, and the marvellous resources and
growth OF the vast country whose bulky products
must seek such water transit to the seaboard
The recent completion of continuous railroad
from ST. Pau to Winnipeg, affordiug overland con-
uecuOn with the three great water systems of the Mis-
sissppi river, Hudson's Bay and the lake chain, and
the immediate extension be made of the Northern
Pacific railroad to the mineral and grazing section of
the far West indicate the extent of the expanding
commerce which must here converge The impor-
| lance of the subject leads to urge that you
memorabilia Congress in furtherance of the objects
sought by the late convention in behalf of lake nayi
cation. The condition of the terminal narbor at
Duluth and the erection of at least one lighted
refuge for vessels upon the long between that
port and Thunder Bay, would seem to be among the
important considerations pertaining the
Of lake commerce.
The resumption of specie payments adds another
to the proud achievements of prosperous nation
corrects perhaps the most fruitful of the radical
disorders bequeahed us by the demon of civil war
1t signals the end of the long night of teverish dis
tress and hastens the glad morning health peace
and prosperity. In her dire struggle for life and
health the nation has never seen more ausricous
epoch than that with which she receives the greeting
of the new year. There remains now but needful
time and rest for restoration to the full measure of
her normal strength.
History indeed records no obstacles more form i'd
able than those which confronted the American peo-
pie in the great work of paciication following the
commissions Of their new birth. despotic power
may suppress instruction by simple force visit
summary punishment upon its rebellious subjects
and reassert its absolute sway. With popular gov
eminent comprising voluntary Union of States
without unrepresented territory, the task is not
merely to enforce the national authority but to
reconcile central power with local dsafection and
wiring from suen and disconnected communities the
willing support requisite to Its cohesive existence
IN the performance of work SO complicated to
wholly escape blnnders would he to evnce in human
anals more than human wisdom. If the govern
ment has carried its forbearance to point exciting
the amazement If not the rdicule of nations-ifit
mas withheld nshment for treason by blood or con-
nscatlon-1f the lnsurgent States have felt the
avenging hand of the government in little else than
Its benefactons-if leading offenders find swift re-
naolhtaton IN the councils of the nation they sought
to dissever-it may prove that wise government is
stronger In the hearts of people than in the Prov
ess OF its arms. Whether such shall be the happy
outcome OF all our internal disturbances depends now
OnQn the conduct no o4,lo