The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1891-01-22
as well as to some of the prominent receiv-

InleHueu. some suggest tnaC DOaTu OF ap-
peal be provided at each terminal point to
adjust any question OF grades arising
in connection with inspection. This
l deem to be wise suggestion.
The problem of grading at local stations
is more difficult to solve. 1t would be i'm
practicable to maintain state inspection at
the thousand and one points throughout
the state where grain is bought, and there
fore il would seem as if the small shipper
must avail himself of the right to ship his
wheat direct to the receiving points and de-
mand state inspection and weights in case
he is dissatisfied with the inspection of the
local elevator agent | am well aware that
many hardships arise from undergrading at
country stations, but see no way whereby
this fiji ulty can be overcome save in the
manner indicated.
THE STATE PRISON.
The board OF managers OF the state prison
at Saltwater has submitted its annual re-
port, giving an account of the important
transactions that have occurred since the
last legislature convened. After advertising
for bids for labor, in accordance with the
law of 1889, and receiving none, a contract
was made with the Minnesota Thresher
company whereby about one hundred and
seventy-five of the convicts were en-
Ployed by that corporation. The
board of managers were reluctant
TO make this arrangement, but it seemed to
be the wisest plan, all things considered.
large lumber o: buildings within the
walls of the prison were owned by the
Thresher company, having been the prop
erty OF its predecessor. 1t was necessary in
order to make the contract with the
Ihresher company to agree to take these
buildings as part payment for the labor fur
nlshed. There was a question in the mind
OF the attorney general whether the build
ing, legally, were not the property of the
state, as they were placed upon lands be-
longing to it, but as it was known that they
had been constructed by the former con-
tractor and were in reality the property Of
his successor, in the interest of equity, the
board decided to purchase them in the
manner indicated. All question Of owner
ship of the buildings is there .or9
now settled. The contract so entered
into by the board of managers expires in
October next, in accordance with the law
under which the prison is managed at this
time. If the present system of contracting
the labor of a portion of the cOnvicts is to
be continued, it will be absolutely neces-
sary to permit the board OF managers to
make a contract for at least ten years in or
der that the state may reap the full advant-
age OF this plan OF using its convict labor, it
being practically impossible to induce capi-
talists to expend the necessary sum to
utilize so large a number of men unless
they are given contract extending over a
sufficient period of time to warrant a large
outlay in establishing a permanent plant.
number of the convicts have been em-
plOyed in the labor OF manufacturing
woodenware with results sufficiently salts
factory to justify its continuance.
THE STATE REFoRMAToRY.
The state retormatory at st. Cloud is in
full working order, and is apparently ac-
complishing the result claimed for it. The
building is entirely inadequate to the de-
mands upon it, having within its walls
more than can be com ortably cared for. 1t
is no longer question that much good can
be effected in checking criminal impulses
by means OF retormatOry methods, and to
that end provisions should be made to so
enlarge the present buildings as to meet the
requirements arising from the increased
number eliminates.
AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM OF VOTING.
The last legislature enacted law relating
to the manner of voting and the holding of
primaries il cities in this state containing
10. 900 people or more, and test of the
plan (known generally as the Australian
system) was made at the last general e!ec-
ton. The law in the main worked satis-
taCtOrlly, some minor changes being ap-
pareptly necessary to perfect it. In my
Judgment the statute should be So amended
as to make it applicable to the entire state,
and | suggest for your consideration the
desira biiity of causing such additions to
the present laws as will accomplish that re-
suit. Public sentim ent is fully alive to
the necessity of throwing such safeguard
about the ballot box as will insure purity
in elections. No means should be spared
to prevent fraud, intimidation, or corrup-
ton at the polls.
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
Our whole educational system is so ex-
Cellent and rests upon so secure fOunda-
ton, that l hardly deem it necessary to en-
large upon it particularly. The exec lent
character of the work being done in the
university, in the normal schools and in
the high schools, isso generally known and
appreciated as to require but little COM
ment, other than words of highest praise
Some changes are needed in the direction
of the management Of the high schools of
the state, as well as some additional appro-
pPiation to meet the natural growth incident
to rapidly increasing population.It would
be we'll to enlarge the present high school
board, consisting of three members, to five
the two additional to be selected one by the
board of regents, and one by the normal
school board. The employment of
special secretary, who would devote his
time to the inspection and improvement of
the high and graded schools seems to me
desirable.
Qnite number of graded schools might
rank as high schools if the appropriation
was increased $500 per year, and thus q
very desirable result would follow a mod.
crate additional expenditure. The sum of
$4O0 is allowed each high school under GER
tain conditions, and at this time the appro.
priation only provides for sixty. At least
twenty-five additional schools should re-
ceveth aid OF $400, as by this assistance
they would grow into excellent institutions,
and raise the standard of education in the
counties where the are situated.
INSPECTION OF ILLUMINATING OILS.
At the last session of the legislature the
law concerning the inspection of illuminat-
ing oils was amended, whereby the fee sys-
tenn was abolished and the position of in
spector of oils made a salaried office, all
emoluments 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 a suit brought
in the district court of Hennepin county by
n company dealing in illuminating oils
inst the deputy oil Inspector in that eoun-
was decided that the term package"
.a Used in the statute might refer to o re-
cepta Gle for Oil OF any size, and that the
vendor OF oil was not compelled to submit
to inspection by the barrel unle s he so
elected. The practical effect of the decision
was such as to render it impossible to pro-
cure an inspector to serve who would be
willing to accept the legal oompensation'for
inspecting package" containing one hun
hundred or more barrels at the rate of 40
cents that being the maximum sum al
lowed by the statute. AS a result. and if
other temporary measures had not been
taken, illuminating oils would have been
sold broadcast over the state wit =
out inspection, endangerlng posi-
bly,, human lite and property
After consultation with the attorney general
and the representatives of the large dealers
in illuminating oils an arrangement was
made whereby the companies dealing in
and distributing oil agreed to pay the sal
aries of three inspectors 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 con-
nection with this matter. illuminating oil
is very generally in use throughout the
state and provision should be at once made
to avoid any calamity that might occur
from a neglect to rigidly inspect the same.
1t might be we'll to consider the desirability
OF returning to the fee system. reducing the
amount per barrel to ten Q0) cents in ac-
cordance with the law in neighboring
states. The public will be better served
IA lAl. IL Al