Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1900-09-27

became engaged, and decided that, by
uniting forces, they could once more
reform the state government. The res
suit of this union was that the Fusion
lists captured the state legislature and
organized it, and they also elected their
own state auditor. r. r. i & S@5 ~
Now were the Fusionist forces In
position to inaugurate the reform
which they had stridently proclaimed
In their campaign as necessary to the
peace, happiness and prosperity of the
state. They could pass any law they
wished, and they had the whole &C.
| counting system of the state, the books
| and the records, in the hands and UNI
| der the inspection Of an auditor Of their
| own political creed. They were in a
position to expose any crookedness Of
| which past. Republican administrations
| might have been guilty. II l~G&
What was the result? The Democrat,
| ic state auditor absolutely failed to dis
cover or disclose any act or deed dis,
| creditable to- any Of his Republican
| predecessors in office. Not a trace of
anything scandalous or dishonorable
was found in any branch Of the states
! business. The accounts Of the depart
ments and institutions were absolutely
straight. s5. a,sa
To the Fusion legislature OF 1891 we
must look, therefore, for the promised
reforms and reform measures.
The act Of this legislature which
brought the value Of Reform" home
most clearly to the people Of MinnesoA
ia was the raising of the tax levy rate
from / 7-10 mills, as levied by the legis-
1ature Of 1889, to 2 2-10 mills, an in
crease of $40 of a mill. s. s5..+ J. i
The amount levied by the 1889 legis-
I lature for state revenue purposes was
$2,25O,000 for the two years Of 1889 and
$780, n
The amount levied by the 1891 legis-
lature for the two years of 1891 and
1892 was s2,545OOO.
The greatest achievement of this Re-
form legislature was in the matter OF
legislative expenses. The Republican
legislature Of 1889 cost the taxpayers
$149, 777.53. The Fusion legislature OF
1891 cost 162,953.52, or s13,175.99 more.
Thus it was proved in 1891, as in 1858,
that an era Of alleged reform is expens-
i've. The people evidently took this
view, of it in 1892, for the legislature Of
1898 was given over to the control of
the Republican party. The result was
that the rate Of the tax levy was re-
duced to 1 ITO of a mill and the legis-
latives expenses were reduced tol $142,-
T1O1.71, or $20,851.S1 below the expenses
Of the previous legislature. @ n:
Since then, successive Republican
legislatures, commencing with the ses-
sion Of 1895, have reduced the rate of
the tax levy to 1 $40 Of a mill, and last
year the state auditor, by virtue Of the
power vested in him by law, was able
to still further reduce the tax to ] 4-10
of a mill, and this year shall reduce
the tax levy to i $40 Of mill
& The legislative expenses, even with
the increase in the apportionment,
were, in 1895, $24,1O517 below those OF
the 1891 session: $1S,632.63' below IL.
1897, and $15,O74.02 below in 1899
Z SO much for the reform period OF
1891. 4.
Less than two years ago we entered
upon our third era Of reform. On Jan.
2, 1899, the Hon. John Lind became the
chief executive officer of the state.
Right here I. wish to say, for Gov.
Lind, personally and officially, have
the highest regard, and as he said in
his speech Of acceptance, on many oc-
casicns I have consulted and advised
and advised with him as to the besl
course to pursue to protect and further
the interests Of the state; but he is
the head and front OF the opposition to
the Republican party in the state to-
day. and is Indirectly responsible for
any sins Of omission or commission on
the part Of boards or heads Of DEPART
ments appointed by him.
He was. elected governor by the com
bined votes of the Democratic and
iPopulist parties, and was pledged to-
reform certain abuses froras which, it
was charged by the Fusion politicians,
the people of the state were suffering.
These alleged abuses, according to the
aforesaid politicians, were chargeables a
to the Republican party and to Repub-
1ican officehdlder NJ low. sLind's admin
istration is now drawing to a close, and
it is not unfair to Inquire what reforms
have been accompl ished during his
term Of Office. The great outcry Of the 4
Fusion politicians during the campaign
of 1898 was against the state grain In
spection department. and against the
management OF the state prison. par