The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-01-16
ADVISED BY MERRIAM.
The Minnesota Legislature Once More
Hears From the Gov.
ernOr.
He Tells the Members to Be Careful
About Expenditures of
Public Funds
And Expresses an Official Opinion on o
Great Many Important
Subjects.

ST. PAUL, Jan. 14.-Governor Merri-
ANS complete message to the state legis-
lature is herewith given:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives
Constitutional enactment permits me
the opportunity of submitting to this
body such facts and suggestions affect
ing the present condition of state affairs
as are deemed worthy of consideration.
Awaiting myself of this privilege l shall
first call attention to matters pertaining
10 general legislation, and later refer
more specifically to such items as [ re-
gard of special Importance. Permit me
to relterate the sentiment expressed in a
communication to the legislature assem-
bled two years ago as to the desira bility
of careful scrutiny of all bills the pur-
poses and requirements of which call for
the expenditure of public moneys. Too
much care cannot be exercised in this
direction. Let the taxes be kept at the
lowest point consistent with prudent and
wise administration, The penal and
charitable institutions. as well as our
public school system, should be sup
ported in a manner worthy of the state
and its citizens, but every demand for
increased facilities or enlarged expenses
should be carefully considered and aid
only extended when absolutely needed.
Further on / shall take the liberty of
expressing my views as to what sums
should be allowed the different institu-
lions. The opinions offered are based
upon careful computation of the reve-
l., 4
during the coming two years.
Should Avoid Glass Legislation.
Allow me to say that | regard as a
great and growing evil, in connection
with all legal enactments, both state and
national, the tendency toward class leg
islatiOn. 1t is too common an occur
renee for localities and for individuals
to demand of the lawmaking power ac-
ton that will tend to their exclusive
benefit. Laws shoul be passed that
will bear upon and benefit equally all
citizens; and the greatest care should be
exercised that no advantage of any kind
or character to the detriment Of the gen
eral public be given to any especial class
or to any particular locality. 1t is quite
the custom among many well-Ineaning
citizens to ask of the legislature relief
from every trouble, imaginary or real,
many of the difficulties being from causes
beyond Its curative resources. All should
be protected In their personal and prop
erty rights. Discrimination of any char
acter that is TO the advantage of one cit
iZen and works injury to another should
be studiously avoided as unfair, and not
in accord with the spirit of free institu-
tons. In this connection, too, l regard
paternalism, so-called, in government, as
an evil that viii ultimately result in
great trouble and endless confusion 1t
is a malady that seems TO be spreading,
and carried to It's logical and legitimate
conclusion will end in the building up of
favored classes and localities to the det-
riment Of the great masses of the people.
Your responsibilities IN this direction are
important, and | commend to your con-
sideration the<necessity of avoiding all
legislation of the character | have noted.
Railroad and Warehouse Commission.
The report of the railroad and ware
house commission gives full insight into
the work that has been accomplished I'M
der the direction Of that body during
the past two years.
Since the passage of the law creating
the present board. the records will clearly
demonstrate the fact that much has been
accomplished that has been of direct
benefit to the general pubic. Among
other things, and important, has been
the gradual but material reduction in
transportation rates for freight and pas
sengers, and such action as has resulted
in requiring of railroad companies equal
consideration for all classes of shippers
We must not forget, however, that COM
petition, improved methods in handling
nd hat
lower grades, and the reduced cost of
transacting business, aided by contin-
ually growing traffic, have all assisted
In making lighter the burdens of trans
portation. To my mind one of the great
est evils incident to railroad manage
ment is the pernicious habit INDUCED in
by too many railroad officials of diScrim-
mating in favor Of certain patrons and
against others. 1t is an abuse over
which the public feel justly incensed
So manifestly unfair is it to give one
shipper any advantage over another that,
in calling attention to the matter. to
simply state that the practice exists
seems to be all that is necessary at
this time. The penalties for disobe-
dience of the section of the law referring
to discrimination should be so severe as
to administer a lesson to him who breaks
IL UnaU Uney VIII not soon De forgotten.
The commission, in its reports of 1886
and of later dates, speaks of a certain
form of discrimination that is worthy of
your consideration. quote from these
reports relative to the system so common
among railroad managers of bestowing
free passes: at is the conviction of this
commission that the issuing of free
passes as now practiced in this state
is an unjust discrimination as
against every passenger that pays,
and thus opposed to the spirit of
the act passed for the regulation of COM
mon carriers; that it is fruitful source
of corruption; that it is injurious alike
to public and private interests, and to
the interests of the companies them
selves, and that it is one of the chief OBJ
stacles in the way of proper and neces-
sary reform in railway management and
the control thereof under authority of
the state" The present law regulating
common carrier especially permits the
issuance of passes for the free transpor-
tatlon of passengers, although all other
discrimination is prohibited under Sc
we're penalties. Comment is unnecessary.
1t is gratifying to state that those sec
tons OF the law requiring that cars shall
be furnished to individual shippers have
been carried into effect more fully during