Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-07

flax growing AMI Othcr branches Of diversified
huSbandry. o
The returns OF vital statistics for 1879 show
a total of 23,i7t births and s, III deaths, beng
q less favorable exhibit of fecundlty ana
healthfulness than that of preceding years +,
which afforded a ratio OF more IMAM three
births 10 onc death
The report of the railroad commissioner
shows that $50 miles of additional railroad
were constructed during the two years, making
a total of 81 10 miles of completed railroad at
the close of 1850. The gross earnings for the
year ending June 80, 1879, were SS,O4. 81, and
for 1880 TO same date SlO,714, SIG, while The mel
earnings for the latter year show an increase
of 81 ,0SS, SS3 over those OF 1879 Inc state
revenue received from railroad companies In
1879 was S2O9, 464, and for 1850, S2S4 S24
The tons of grain carried in 1879 nlilnDefco
5gS, 493, and in 1880, 1,055,S10, while the tons
of freight of all kinds in the latter year NUM-
bcred !, S3S4 $50 against 2,S93, $40 in 1917.
The sales Of land by the State, United states
land offices and the railroad companies reach
an aggregate for the two years OF about $500 i,
600 acres.
The last report of the insurance commits
sioner shows that fire and inland risks were
written for 1879 covering SS0,0g7, 596, for
which premiums were paid amounting to
s., 900, OBJ; and taxes and fees paid into the
State treasury aggrcgating S2S, 4l5 50.
The report of the fish commissioner shows
that in the past two years PISS, ,04 Of the sew
eral varieties of fish have been distributed for
propagation in the lakes and streams of Min
nesOta.
The report of the adjutant general shows
that under the State claim agency there were
filed between January /, 1865, and November
30, 1880, q total of SAT- soldiers claims, of
which 4,7S4 were allowed, covering the total
sum of $G5I, i51.67, which was collected and
distributed to the claimants free OF charge.
APPoRTIoNMENT.
Among the first duties which should de-
demand your prompt performance is new
apportonment OF legislative districts upon
the basis Of the late federal census OF the
State. The failure to perform this duty in
1915 withheld from the growing frontier
counties the increased representation to which
they were Justly entitled, and the wrong thus
inflicted upon them has since become so serl-
Gus that in some instances the same popula
ton which i'll the Old counties sends four rep
resentatiyes to the legislature, in these new
counties sends but one. Such obvious in
Justice trust will not be allowed to cor
tinue. The census of the State has not been
officially reported, but its numerical results
are sufficiently known for the practical pur-
pose required. The Congressional apportiOn-
ment OF the State must, of course, await the
action of Congress, which il taken at the
present session may possibly be i'll time to en-
able you to form our Congressional dis
trcts before adjournment. To this end it
might be well TO pass resolution urging an
early official report of the census TO be sent
us from Washington.
BIENNIAL sEssIoNs-sPEcIAL LEGISLATION.
1t will devolve upon the Legislature at this
session to adjust the laws respecting reports
of the several departments and State institu-
tons to the constitutional requirement OF
biennial, in lieu of annual sessions. Under
the laws now in force such reports are reqlir-
ed TO be made annually. This should be dis
pensed with and only biennial reports required
to correspond with the alternate years when
the session is held, thereby lessening the ex-
pense of publication. All question as to the
proper mode of canyassing the votes for dis
trct Judges, and also respecting the time for
the canvass of votes for State officers as now
required by the constitution, should be set ut
rest, in Order.to avoid the possibility OF future
complications resulting from lack of express
provision upon the subject. The adoption of
biennial in lieu of annual sessions of the legis-
lature, promises to be more salutary in its re-
suits than was expected by those who favored
the change. 1t is not probable that any pub
lie interest has thus far suffered from lack OF
legislation, while it is certain that much less
ill-adyised action will now need to be undone,
and it IS believed that there will be less, rather
than more, legislation required at this session
in consequence of the omitted session OF last
winter.
Laws which would then have been deemed
defective, are found upon further trial to need
no amendment, the changing act and its repeal
being thus both avoided, while the amend
ments that are actually needed are better as
certained and considered upon two years trial
than one.
In all respects biennial sessions will prove
beneficial, the saving of expense alone being
so considerable that decrease of taxation
will probably be practicable, at least in alter
nate wears. The change is being steadily
adopted by the different States, two-thirds OF
which now hold biennial sessions, while l
know of no instance of return to annual ses-
sions where the biennial plan has been once
adopted.
Ii to the step thus wisely taken in the direc-
ton of reform there could be added this proh-
btion or curtailment of the growing evil of
special legislation, another fruitful source of
expense and abuse of power would be removed.
It is we'll known to all persons familiar with
this subject that at least two-thirds OF the
time, labor and expense required of the average
session are consumed in the passage and print
ing of acts of purely private, special or local
nature, which are properly matters to be con-
sidered by the courts or local authorities, or
which could be more promptly and justly
treated under general laws of uniform applica
cation, with benefit to all parties concerned.
This evil is receiving serious consideration Ill
other States, from whose experience, both OF the
evil and of the attempted correction, valuable
information can be derived. l commend the
matter to YOUR candid consideration, and sug-