St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-24
and wronged productive industries of

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that would have tried; that would, at
all events, have protested in the name
of the people against the imposition Of
increased burdens by monopolistic
power; would have shown that it had
some sympathy for the tOiling masses:
and it and its nominal creator, the gov
ernor, could have given some evidence
Of disposition to keep in good faith the
solemn pledge of their party.
There would have been some "busi-
ness" in such action; there was here a
grand field for the exhibition of bust
ness ability, and splendid opportunity
to prove to the people that a party
pledge meant something that it was not
mere ''s0und and fury, signifying noth-
ing"
But the governor and his creatures
accept the result, make report which
they hope nobody will read, lift their
eyes to heaven and solemnly calculate,
y, what daisy "buSiness" men are wei
There is another bit of business % on
the part of railroad that cuisines
administration" would have probed to
the bottom and unnasked its evident
crookedness.
The bit of business (?) referred to is
found recorded by our railroad (owned)
commission in the construction account
of the $500 railroad. The claimed
cost of that road is SS4, ia, 097.65 or s433,-
405.60 a mile. Its real cost, 1T is said
by those who claim to know what they
are talking about, was about So, 200
mile. In the items which go to make
the total cost is this: Discount on Sc
curities sold for construction, S1S, 49,
$685." 1t will be noticed that the
road cost, according to the report, only
SIS. 754, 677.66. but it cost SIS, 419, 1888 to
get the money to build it'll
That was a rate of discount so enor-
nous that it should have excited the
suspicion of "buSiness" governor, eS-
pecially when he was ''born in a BANK"
and as the custodian of the interests of
the people he should have thoroughly
investigated such decidedly shady
transaction on the part of corporate
child OF the state, particularly as it was
monopolistic child, with the power to
ultimately make its capitalization per-
dustreS of the state.
Again, it was not only the Cuisines"
but the official duty of the governor to
ferret out, get at the exact truth, and,
If necessary. prosecute to the utmost
the parties to that self-evident over
capitalization, because it was direct
violation of law of the state, one of
the laws the governor swOre to uphold,
maintain and execute.
Now, it is seif-evIdent that the distn-
gnshed Cuisines administration of
Gov. MERRIAM has not only failed to
do some very important business"
which clearly lay within its province,
and that would have been of incalculable
value to the legitimate interests of the
state, but it utterly failed to make a
single attempt to keep the solemn COM
pact of its party with the farmers of the
state.
But in this last our distinguished (?)
governor is supported by his party; for
the only plank in its last platform that
means anything, or the meaning of
which is clear, is the one that unqua!i-
fiedly Endorses his administration. In
so doing the governors party aHthorI-
tatively proclaims its willingness and
eagernesS to warmly indorse its officials
who break the party pledges they are
elected upon.
Has not our eminently "business'
governor gladly welcomed the multiple
cation of appointive offices, and shown
eager haste in filling them with men
who would prove earnest and faithful
workers in furt!Iering his political am
| bition?
Can he show where any department
| of the state has been more economically
run than formerly? Where even an at
tempt has been made toward admins
trative reforms in the interest of our
overburdened taxpayers?
In 1888 it cost S219 per capita to sub
sist the inhabitants of our state re-
formatOry and charitable institutions
| for the year ending June so. 1890, it cost
S293 per capita to subsist them. In the
meantime food, clothing or fuel had
not advanced in price. Is this bit OF
business" that the friends of the pres
ent administration want to commend as
shining example of the business abil
ity of its head?
There is a splendid opportunity fol
the exercise of a deal of the right kind
of business" talent in the state wheat
inspection department, that generous
repository of campaigners who cannot
be otherwise provided for. Dare the
friends of this business adminiStra
ton tell the whole truth regarding the
business" of the state prison ring?
Maybe some of the governors friend:
are proud of his record as president OF
the State Agricultural society, where,
during his last campaign, he so literally
employed men friendly to his cause
that an $4,000 surplus was turned into {
deficit of over $1,000!
But why particularize further? l
Mr.. MERRIAM's administration is in any
way superior to those of his predeces
sors, let it be shown: if it cannot bt
shown, then let's hear no more of this
sickly slush about pre-eminent '.busi
ness administration"