St. Paul daily globe., 1889-01-10
GOV, MERRIAM'S


GOV. MERRIAM'S
Opinion on Matters of State I'M
portance.
The best points in Gov. Merriam'S
are herewith reproduced:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House Of
Representatives: In compliance with Gus
tom that has become one of our unwritten
laws. beg TO submit for your consideration
my views in connection with a proper ad-
ministration OF the high functions bestowed
upon me by the people, and also 10 offer
some suggestions, as to Legislation, upon a
few of the more important issues materially
affecting the commonwealth. The
responsibility of our lawmakers, ever grave
one, was never, in our history, SO great as
now.
Very serious consequences might result to
our people, and to those that come after us,
by reason of bills hastily drawn and made
into laws or permitted TO become such, be-
fore their provisione have had serious and
thoughtful consideration.
The present. indeed, is almost a crucial
period in our existence.
We are making history and making laws
that will leave their impress upon the mate
rial welfare of the state for a half century to
come. | bespeak your earnest atten :
ton to, and most careful scrutiny of, every
Dill dUluOTILlU3 Ilc QtSDuCSGLlGuG VI luOilSy
1t is proper that certain sums be approprl-
ated for the enlargement of state instltu-
tons, where there is good reass to believe
that the increased population and growth
make such action necessity. There Will
likewise be the usual demands for the proper
support and maintenance of these various
Institutions, and TO cover ordinary expenses
incidental to the management of state af-
fairs.
It is not unlikely that. during your session,
bills may be introduced providing for the
issue of bonds to meet some special eme1-
gency,or to realize funds with which to prose-
cute some public enterprises that 1t may be
deemed wise to enter into: and, while 1t is
your duty to carefully consider all such
measures, yet it would seem to be prudent to
exercise the greatest caution in creating a
debt of any magnitude at this time; for,
while commercial, industrial and agrlcult-
ural business is generally satisfactory, there
are indications of the development OF condl-
tious less favorable, that might cause our
liabilities 10 become burdensome if materi-
ally increased The fund arising
from our tax lew is not available to the
treasurer until some six or eight months
after the commencement of our fiscal year, at
which time the various amounts approprl-
ated, and to be disbursed, are Invariably
called for.
1t has been the custom, in the past, under
authority of legislative enactment, to make
good this apparent or temporary deficiency
in the revenue fund.- by borrowing necessary
amounts from time to time, of the sinking
and trust fund of the stale.
assume that the law authorizing this prac-
tice was only intended as temporary meas
ure, and that It's trainers recognized the ne
cessity of some plan more commendable from
business standpoint. The matter is one
that IS entitled TO your serious consideration ::
and hope you may be able to provide some
better method of enabling the treasurer to
meet the general and current obligations of
the state; for under the existing arrange
ment undesirable or serious complications
might arise.
In the annual report of your treasurer, at
tention is called to this matter, and some
remedies suggested, the more desirable OF
which, in my judgment, is that you authorize
the annual issue of what might be termed
revenue bonds, by Joint authority OF your
executive, treasurer and auditor, under such
restrictions as you may deem proper, and as
may be required to meet the demands made
upon the the treasury for payment of general
or specific obligations, when the funds TO
pay the same are not available.
The plan as contemplated does not provide
for the negotiation or sale of these bonds in
the market, but the sinking or trust funds
only shall be invested therein, and that they
shall be made redeemable at any time when
the revenue funds i'll the treasury will per-
nit. and when, ID the Judgment of the state
otfic ials that may be selected to pass Judg-
ment on the matter, the urgency that made
the issuance necessary no longer exists. In
my opinion these bonds should not bear in
terest at rate exceeding four a. per cent
per annum.
AGRICULTURAL COND ITIONs.
AS you are no doubt all aware in the tier
of counties adjacent to, and lying north OF,
the Northern Pacific railroad, and to the
east of the Red River of the North, bitter
frost occurred in the month of August of the
past year, partly destroying. and in many
instances completely running, the wheat
crop.
l have communicated with the auditor in
each one of the various counties, and am
able to present to you accurate ana speclhc
information as to the extent of the loss, ana
evidence of the distress that exists.
In some of the counties over 80 per cent OF
the wheat crop has been practically de-
stroyed.
This afiiction has been especially grievous
in many cases where the settlers were already
burdened with debt more or less heavy, ere
ated by the expenses incident to improving
their new homes and procuring machinery
and implements to conuuet farming opera
tions
l am informed that there are many in
stances where the farmers who have suffered
this misfortune are SO poverty stricken that
they are absolutely unable to purchase seed
wheat for this year, and that there are some
cases, even, where they find it difficult mat
ter to provide themselves and their families
with the common necessaries of life.
would suggest that some way be devised
whereby the really deserving ones receive aid
to the extent at least of being furnished with
seed wheat. thus supplying them with the
means of pursuing their farming operations,
and making it possible for them to improve
their condition by means of another crop.
This provision cannot be made in the nat
ure of a gift, for it is not the province OF the
state to donate money for this or anq other
purpose, however worthy; but bill can be
drawn authorizing temporary loan from
the state to the counties in which these
ties, through their proper officers with funds
to purchase seed wheat for distribution
among the needy and deserving.
| am informed that the railroads will
transport this wheat free of charge, and, so
far as possible, deliver it at such distributing
points as may be selected.
PENAL AND REFoRMATORY INSTITUTIONS.
A matter of grave Importance to the people
of the state is the method OF managing It's
penal institutions and the employment OF
convict labor.
The convict is in reality the ward of the
state, and it is manifestly as much your
duty to consider his material and moral well
fare as it is your province to deal with those
issues in connection with his management
and employ, that affect the people OF our
state and the industries with which they are
concerned.
1t is a crime to enforce idleness upon the
criminal whom the law deprives of his
liberty; and it is equally as unjust to the
citizenship of our stale to provide for him
employment of such character and in such
manner, as shall adversely affect the indus
tries that are the joint product OF private
enterprise ane capital and of honest free
and untrammeled labor. The labor of the
convicts at Saltwater was. for a number of
years, contracted to Messrs. Seymour. Sabin
& Co., but, on the 1st day of September last,
in accordance with the law enacted in 1887.
the agreement was cancelled and the board
of inspectors instructed to employ the labor
OH Estate account"
The snm of S25. 900 was appropriated at