Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-05

II
TrE MILITIA.
i The moderate encouragement given tn
militia organizations OF the state by tn
), ,ct of 1891 sas had the effect to consider
! nj Ny sti1 nalats the zeal and martial spiri
of be yo. unteeas companies then existing
and - ind uce sae formation of additiona
conna1,s,s 10 tie limit of the full quot;
| allowed bv that act. AS appears by tht
renort of the adjutant general, there have
been orraniys.a within the past year com
panies in SN Paul, Minneapolis, Albert
Lea. Fairmouws Mankato, Austin ant
Fergus Falls. 4 he Minnesota National
| Guard now consla OF ten companies Of
infantry, two troSt OF cavalry and two
sections of artillery, all armed as infantry
except one section o. artillery, which Is
we'll equipped in that arm OF the service
This force is organizes into two battalions
of infantry and one inn ependent battery
The guard has greatly aA vanced In discl-
pline and efficiency durTgA the past year,
much of which is due to iThe instruction
received during the encanpA leRt held last
July. The opportunity that occasion af-
forded for practical experience of soldiers
on duty was fully improved, and the
beneficial results of the expel fence ac-
quired have been most manifest IN the i'm
proved esprit dA corps of the 81 tire Or
ganization and the stimulus given to its
growth. ] deem it Important That all
proper aid and encouragement be given to
the state militia. These annual enc. imp
ments are very useful III impalting such
instruction as will enable the organiZah ons
to act together with intelligence, and Sc
cure that degree of efficiency thai viii
make the militia reliable for such possible
services as it may be called upon to per
form. The expense is moderate, and
therefore recommend an appropriation
for the purchase of tents and other camp
equipage sufficient for regiment. There
are several localities now awaiting au-
thority to organize companies, A mod
crate increase in the organization would
seem to be suggested by the growth of our
population. I therefore recommend that
the authorized aggregate force of the
Minnesota National Guard be increased to
sixteen (16) companies of infantry, and
two (2) sections of artillery, and the an
nual appropriation for its maintenance be
increased to $4,000,
The Adiutant- Generals Office has pro-
cured the allowance of pension claims
during the past two years to the amount
of $181, 68759. There are now pending
1924 cases of which the office has charge.
New claims are being fled in numbers
sufficient to prevent the list of those pend
ing to become perceptably reduced.
BIENNIAL ELECTIONS.
The advantage accruing to the state by
the adoption of biennial sessions of the
To- oJo@u 4hotI
I doubt if the wisdom of the change is now
questioned in any quarter. 1t is no longer
regarded an experiment, but demonstrat-
ed benefit in the economy of our state
affairs. I believe experience would induce
a similar judgment in behalf of biennial
elections. The people are surfeited with
the agitation and excitement attendant
upon our often recurring elections. They
would accept as measure of relief a prop
osition to have them occur but once in two
years. have no doubt they would en-
phatically approve an amendment to the
constitution embodying this proposition,
and I earnestly recommend that your body
provide for the submission of such an
amendment at the next general election.
AS question Of economy it
recommends itself with espe-
cial force. The expense of each
general election held throughout the state
is estimated to be fully 100000. The
saving of this sum every alternate year
would prove an appreciable relief to the
burdens imposed upon the pc ople. be-
lieve this change would also have health
full influence upon and elevate the charac-
ter of our political contests. The better
elements of the community, feeling it less
tax upon their time, would give more at
tention to their political duties, and the
tendency would be to eliminate much that
is Objectionable, which now marks and de-
moralizes our politics. Some changes
would have to be made in the terms of
state and county officers, and elections
must be held the year in which
members of congress are chosen. In this
connection I would also suggest that the
date be fixed on which the political year of
the state shall commence. The indefinite
ness and uncertainty which now attaches to
this matter renders possible complications
of an embarrassing chara cter.
The growth of population in our state
institutions involves corresponding in
crease in the consumption of every class
of supplies. A portion of these supplies,
more particularly fuel, could undoubtedly
be purchased with greater economy if done
by some one officer of the state, who, by
inviting bids, could secure the benefit of
competition from abroad. The consump-
ton of coal at all the institutions amounts
to several thousand tons per annum. This
could be purchased in the manner indicat-
sd,fer delivery at different points in guam
titles required, at much less relative prices
than those now paid. Your attention is in
vited to this matter.
l transmit for your information and such
action as you may deem best to take there
on,a petition from number of citizens of
the state who held claims against the
Transit Railroad company, which were
filed for adjustment under the act of 1881,
providing for the adjustment of certain
alleged claims against the state" asking
that the balance of their claims be paid by
the state.
In July last, received from the treasury
of the United States, drafts to the amount
of $37, 203.57 in allowance of claim of the
state under the act of congress approved
Feb. 26, 1851, for five per centum of the
net proceeds of the sale of lands upon the
Winnebago and Sioux reservations. The
agent appointed by the government in
1874, (Gen. ]. B. Sanborn), under the joint
resolution of the legislature of that wear