St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-07

NhASA bHC L Is 1DnDOSHlDI0
longer to dodge the issue, IL is now retrench-
ment OF disaster
Examining the future sources Of revenue
Gov. Mellette finds that 2-mill tax on the
states assessment of S11O,O01, 900 will pro-
duee S220,Uu0, to which may be added SO :
600 fees from the auditor Of the state insur-
ance department and SO 900 fees from the
secretary OF state, making S943, 900. The
governor estimates the fiscal requirements
ior the ensuing year at S4l5, ,452.76. As
there is but e243,000 i'll sight to
meet these demands, 1t is nesessarY
for the legislature 10 make a retrenehp
ment OF 12452.76 per annum I'M
order to bring disbursements within the re-
celpts. 10 erect this retrenchment he sugs
gests that all offices that can be dispensed
with Without detriment 10 the public service
be abolished and others consolidated, and
salaries diminished until the expenses of the
administration are reduced to the minimum,
regard being had only to the public needs
not to the welfare of individuals. Next he
would provide in the general appro-l
priation bill definite sums for the
per diem, mileage and contiu-
gent expenses of each state officer and state
agent, nnd OF each department ana public
institution, including Its supervision and
management, thus bringing under control
these now uncertain amounts embraced in
Class 'B" and fixing n maximum beyond
which no responsibility can attach 10 the
state, and supplement this enactment by q
provision in terms multiplying all territorial
statutes so far as they can possibly be con-
strued as appropriately public revenues or
authorizing any state officer or agent or
board to incur any Indebtedness or expend
any money on behalf Of the state except as
specifically authorized by the state legislat-
ure. and that the auditor shall not draw or
the treasurer pay any warrant upon the treas
ury except in pursuance of an appropriation
for the specific purpose first made, and pro-
viding severe penalties for its violation. This
stops the expenditures included in Class
"A, and such of them as are desired can be
placed on the appropriation bill. The peo-
pie. through you their representatives, have
right to say how their money shall be ex-
pended and no selfeonshtuted agent should
be allowed to usurp this supreme right OF
the people without suffering severe penal
ties. Until this is done money will run out
of the treasury like water out of sieve and
there will always be deficiency.
Then after pruning down to the lowest
amount consistent with the public welfare
the appropriations for the public institutions
closing some of them entirely If necessary,
provide by law MS far as practicable for each
county paying for their maintenance in pro-
portion as II may require their benefits. The
county might bear the expense OF transport
tation OF the inmates 10 the penal and
charitable institutions, or il might pay into
the state treasury q fixed sum in part for
their maintenance. The latter plan is be-
lieved TO be more equitable, since the ex-
pense OF transportation would be nothing In
the county where the institutions are located.
but might be burdensome 10 remote counties,
thus imposing special tax ON geographical
position. The expense Of transportation
would be reduced at least onehalf il made
by an agent of the institution under direct
contract of the board of management AT the
same time IL is suggested as temporary ex
pediency that the number of students Rd-
mitted free to the educational institutions bo
limited to ascertain number from each
county, to be designated by county authority,
and that additional students theTefrom be
required TO pay into the state treasury tut
tiOn fee in part maintenance of the instltu-
ton, or let 1t be paid by the county of the
student. All foreign students should be
charged tuition sufficient TO cover all ex-
penses. At any rate and by some means
make the receipts and disbursements for tho
year balance. IL is your province TO deter
mine the method.
The executive is Of The opinion that under
the plain provisions of the constitution, 1t
was intended that the ordinary expenses OF
the state government, outside of interest on
the public debt, should be conducted within
the limit OF twOmill tax on the dollar. A
liberal construction map possibly authorize
an additional levy to cover the deficit OF the
preceding year, under act of the legislature
as provided by section /, article IL. IL is for
the legislature to determine this question be-
fore making appropriations, and II should
so govern its action that the revenues will
meet the expenditures. Even If the legisla-
greater than two-mill levy, il should base
all appropriations upon most careful esti-
mate OF the actual necessities OF the state,
resoluteiy cutting off all unnecessary ex-
penses, regardless OF benefit or injury TO
friend or foe, personal or political That
policy In business or politics is fatal TO
either the individual or party which rests
upon any other basis than conscientious re-.
gard to duty and truth; duty as the heart
feels IL, and truth as the mind sees IL.
The nlG0 rpcUmmpn6q gVpaUin0
reductions in the expenses OF the public in
stitutions He says the executive will exert
his prerogative to enforce the rule that the
public institutions be conducted strictly
within the appropriations fixed for them.
The soldiers home at Hot Springs, which
wos opened Nov. u, has now forty inmates,
and is first-class institution in every re-
spect. but the governor expresses regret that
its cost exceeded the appropriation made
for IT,
The average attendance at the agricultural
college for the past year was 1Iu, from thirty
three counties, with total enrolment OF
339.
The University of Dakota shows an enroll
ment of 435 students, an average attendance
Of 3lG. and the average attendance in college
classes is IA lie recommends that the nor
NAL department be abolished.
The governor strongly urges the mainte-
nance of the nigh standard Of the public
schools. and recommends that compulsory
law be passed giving to every. child in the
state an English education and giving him
his text books free or at actual cost.
Upon the subject OF corporations the gov
ernor says: 1.-THE growing power and en-
croachment of corporations has rendered
necessary 10 their proper control n resort to
boards with special and extraordinary pow
ers" lie makes the following recommends
tons:
(A.) One commissioner Of railroads and
warehouses in lieu Of the present board OF
three.
(B.J One commissioner Of insurance and
corporations other than railroads and ware
houses.
(CD That the commissioner of labor and
statistics be charged with the additional du-
ties of immigration commissioner and arbi-
traitor of questions between corporations and
their employees.
Each commissioner should have original
jurisdiction in all matters pertaining TO his
Office, and appeal should be from his decis-
ion to three sitting as council, with ado-
quate provision for the enforcement Of Its
DEGREES.
The powers of the railroad commissioners
should be enlarged in many respects so as TO
embrace the control of charges within rea-
sonable bounds, and especially comforting
power to adjust through arbitration, dam
ages for killing stock and setting prairie
fires with penalties for failure to reverse
its findings adequate to prevent dilatory APP
peal.
The commissioner OF other corporations
should be specially charged with securing
assessment OF banks and moneyed corpora
tions in order TO their just taxation and TO
enforce the provision of the law as 10
usury and other subjects for their proper
control
The court Of justice, as now organized
without such provision, affords practically
no protection TO the rights Of the citiztn OF
small means as against the unlimited re-
sources of the corporation. The state should
furnish counsel and conduct the litigation
necessary TO protect the citizen from the OPP
preston of the artificial person Of its crea-
ton. These officers should all be appointed
until the first general election, after which
they should be elected by the people.
The bonded Indebtedness OF the state is.
S1l6,6 900 at @ per cent Sl24.0OO at 5 per
cent, S317, 100 at Ala per cent. and S302, 800
at per cent: besides the issue which is re-
ported have been sold on the first instant
SI60, 900 at 3l2 per cent making total Of
81, O2O 200, with an annual interest and
sinking fund charge of about S34.OU0.
which, with the additional amount necessary
TO redeem outstanding settlement warrants,
S30, ,0Oo, will make the total Indebtedness
about 81 ,O5O, 200, and this amount should
not be increased except for extraordinary ex-
penses or public defense.
The governor recommends the passage OF
a banking law rp0uirinQ all institutions lOan-