St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-04
POLITICAL PlIjMS.
Influence Is Cutting a Great
Figure in the Governors
Appointments.
Fitness subopdinated to the
Question, "How Many
zal Friends Has Hep"
Insurance Commissioners Bal
ley a Lamb Marked for
Slaughter.
VII
Assistant Dairy Commissioner
Howard Too Big for His
Boots.


pointments tomorrow. There was an
abie-bodied rumor around the hotel lob
bies last evening that some important
changes are to be made. 1t is beyond
doubt that there is to be new insur-
ance commissioner and that he will be
G. I'll. Smith, of Worthlngton. This APP
pointment is not likely to be fayorably
received among Republicans, and a
member of the party-a man standing
high in the party councils-said:
"For the life of me cannot understand
why Gov. Merriam has appointed G H. Smith
insurance commissioner. He certainly is not
the choice of the Second district. and, from
political standpoint, carries very little
weight. 1t is the weakest appointment that
the governor could have made
Mr.. Smith has latterly been engaged
in the real estate and insurance bust
ness, and at one time held the position
of receiver in the land Office at Worth
lngtOn. E. Il. Dearth is slated 10 re-
main as deputy.
There is to be quite turning up in
the dairy commission. Commissioner
Ives is to be retained, but this is largely
owing to the fact that his brother is the
lieutenant governor. Gov. Merriam
has expressed the desire that he would
liked to have made complete s'clean-
ing out" i'll this department of state
government, but that the Influence"
brought to bear by the incumbents has
been too strong for him to ''buck"
against. 1t is well-known fact that
Gov. Merriam is swayed in his appoint
meptS by outside interference. He
does not judge an applicant for office by
his fitness for it, but merely by the
number of friends he has and petitions
he can have showered into the eXecu-
tive department urging his appoint
ment. But there is one man who will
fail to get reappointeG. and that
is Assistant Commissioner Howard.
PROFESSIONALLY he has got "to walk"
certain. and there IS no one more
pleased at this than Commissioner Ives.
1t is an open secret that Ives and How
ard have not worked tremendously.
Howard has considered himself as big
as Ives, and the consequence has been
that the efficiency of the commission
has been crippled the past two years, so
much SO that among many Legislators a
disposition has been shown to order a
legislative investigation. There will be
a stirring up of the, dry bones il the
Investigation is ordered. Hundreds of
thousands of dollars have been eX-
pended, and with what result? Almost
Solely to provide fat sinecures for pro-
fessional politicians. Legislators also
complain against the dairy commission
having been made the happy hunting
groiindS for the relatives of the chief
commissioner.
fits questionable whether John L.
Gibbs will be retained on the railroad
and warehouse commission, but no one
has been able to fix on successor.
Prof. KIehle is fixed for another term
J as superintendent of the state public in
strueton. Why? Simply because no
position. Fred PIllsbury and other
prominent Mlnneapolitans have urged
the appointment of MIR. Kiehle, and,
while Gov. Merriam is reported to be in
clined TO make change, in the face of
these recommendations he says that he
cannot dO it. A member-eleet OF the
legislature and a personal friend of the
governor last evening remarked:
The appointment of kiehle is not one upon
which the governor is particularly struck,
and, supposing q candidate was to step for
ward between now and Monday noon and
show that his candidacy carried with il a GER
tain amount of weight. he would be the next
Superintendent of public instruction. 1t is
quite time Kiehle was retired. He has been
superintendent nine or ten years now, ana
what this state wants i'll that office is young
mana man full Of energy and progressive
in his ideas.
Tue bureau of labor statistics is likely
to hear something drop tomorrow.
Commissioner Lamb has not COW
cred himself with glory in his report
just published; on the other hand, the
state has frittered away upwards of
$4,000 upon WORK practically useless
for the purposes it is intended.
re. Clark is to be retained at the
head Of the boiler inspectors.
The state railroad commissioners
claim that they are responsible for the
appointments in that department. If
this be so, it is very singular that, by
Gov Merrlam's instructions. Darius L.
Reese is to be made assistant to Z. K.
Tiesberg. secretary of the commission
What has Mr.. Reese done to fit him for
such person? He has merely been
the political hack of Gov. Merriam, and
for that reason his appointment as
assistant secretary-to be made at an
early date-is due.
Secretary OF State Brown has APP
pointed Herman Stockenstrom deputy,
and j. j. Lohlen, of Ada, Norman
county. chief clerk.
Sam G. Jverson Will retain his posi-
ton in the state auditors Office.