The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-01-16

in elections. No means should be spared to
prevent fraud, intimidation, or corruption
at the polls.
Educational System.
! Our whols educational system is so ex-
cellent, AMI rests upon so secure a foun-
dation, that1 hardly deem it necessary TO
enlarge upon it particularly. The excel
lent character OF the work being done in
the university in the normal schools,
and in he high schools, is so
| generally Known and appreciated as
to require Int little comment, other than
words OF highest praise. Some changes are
needed IN tie direction of the management
of the high schools of the state as well as
some additional appropriation to meet the
natural glowth incident to rapidly in
creaslng Population. 1t would be well to
enlarge the present high school board con-
slstlng OF tlree members, to five, the two
additional 20 be selected one by the board
OF regents and one by the normal school
! board. lie employment of special sec
rotary, who would devote his time to the
inspection and improvement of the high
and graded schools seems to me desirable.
| Quite lumoer of graded schools might
rank as high schools if the appropriation
was increased $1,000 per year, and thus a
| very desirable result would follow mod
crate additional expenditure The sum of
800 Is allowed each high school under GER
tain conditions, and at this time the ap-
preparation only provides for $50 At least
twenty-five additional schools should re-
ceive the aid of $780, as by this assistance
they would grow into excellent institu-
lions, and raise the standard of education
IN the counties where they are situated
Inspection of Illuminating Oils.
At the asst session of the legislature the
law concerning the inspection of illumin
ating oils was amended, whereby the fee
system was abolished, and the position of
inspector of oils made salaried office, all
emolumeats arising from inspection being
covered monthly into the state treasury
No appropriation having been made to pay
his salary the inspector deducted the
amount due him under the provisions of
the law each month from the fees collected.
In March last, however, in suit brought
in the district court of Hennepin county
by company dealing in illuminating oils
against the deputy oil inspector in that
county, it was decided that the term
package as used in the statute, might
refer to receptacle for oil of any size, and
that the vendor of oil was not compelled
TO submit to inspection by the barrel I'M
less he so elected. The practical effect of
the decision was such as to render it i'm
! possible to procure an inspector to serve
/ who would be willing to accept the legal
! compensation for inspecting package
containing 100 or more barrels at the rate
OF ~ cents, that being the sum maximum
| Sta tIIta AZ aSvl1t nd
other temporary measures had not been
taken, Illuminating oils would have been
| sold broadcast over the state without in
! spection, endangering, possibly, human
! life and property. After consultation with
the attorney general and the representa-
| tives OF the large dealers in illuminating
oils an arrangement was made whereby
the companies dealing in and distributing
/ Oil agreed topay the salaries of three in
! spectors until such time as the law could
be amended to meet the case involved
! This was undoubtedly the best plan that
could be devised to meet the emergency.
respectfully urge upon you the necessity
| of prompt legislation in connection with
/ this matter Illuminating oil is very gen
! orally in use throughout the state, and
provision should be at once made to
avoid any calamity that might occur from
neglect to rigidly inspect the same Ii
| might be well to consider the desirability
! of returning to the fee system, reducing
/ the amount per barrel to 10 cents, in ac,
! cordance with the law in neighboring
! states The public will be better served
and the perquisites after deducting the
sum necessary to provide deputies to
strictly enforce the law would not aggre
"A in VIC nf ~
labor performed From such information
as have on hand the number of barrels
that are likely to be subject to inspection
will not exceed $4,000 per annum in the
cities OF St Paul and Minneapolis There
| would perhaps be q, 900 to 10000 barrels tt
! be inspected in other parts of the state, tc
| be handled by local inspectors After de-
| Quoting necessary expenses of rigorous in,
! spection in the two cities it would leave
| between 81, coo and 81 900 as a salary to the
chief Inspector Should it be deemed ad
visable TO continue to pay salary to the
/ inspector the amount should be provided
for in the general appropriation bill.
The National Guard.
! l desire especially to call your atte ntioI
to the efficiency and excellence of the
! National Guard. 1t is composed largely Of
| young men from all parts of the state
many of them from the agricultural dis
tricts, who are devOting themselves will
great earnestness and faithfulness to the
manual training necessary to develop then
into soldiers equal to any emergency. The
reports of the adjutant general indicate
a constant improvement in point of prof
cheney and drill and the other requisite:
for military service. 1t is well to have
bodies of trained men for the purpose Of
protecting life and property should exin
gencies arise in the way of local disturb
ance; and in case of war with foreign
countries, well trained officers could be Sc
lected as the basis of material for organic
ing an army from the ranks of TIT
National Guard. At present no provision
has been made to furnish overcoats o.
blankets to the men, for use in case the.
are ordered out on duty in extrem'
weather An appropriation for this pur
pose is manifestly proper one, the arti
cles purchased to remain the property o
the state.
The Worlds Fair.
The worlds fair to be held in Chicago il
1898 will be an event of national import
ance, and proper steps should be taken b.
the legislature to insure full exhibit o
the resources of our state upon that occa
sion. No means should be omitted to hav,