The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1900-09-29


hoping thereby to escape foreign com
petition. But the credit of our state
was such that, notwithstanding the
short time of this paper, notwithstand-
ing its low rate of interest, New York
brokers bid premium of $135
on the. issue, and this at a time
when the consols Of imperialistic
England, drawing the same rate
OF interest and heretofore recogniz-
ed as the best security in the world,
were selling at a discount in excess of 2
per cent. #
THE LARGE SURPLUS.
The only difficulty with our finance.
at the present time is the large surplus
In the treasury. At the end of the fiscal
year, Aug. I, the state treasurer had in
MS vault and on deposit in the various
banks $2,1oo,a37.52. This sum is large
~ IN excess OF the amount actually
needed tor the requirements of the
state. And | cannot help but express
my regret that the last legislature did
not cut down the tax levy, as I adj
vlsed IN my message, Notwithstanding
the tact that they refused the legislation
tor the increase of the states revenue
as l recommended. The next legisla-
ture, even though it remains obdurate
on the question Of providing more reve-
nue. for the state from the sources that I
have indicated, will be able to reduce
the tax levy by one-third if the appro-
priations are kept down to the real
wants and necessities of the state. eco
nomically administered.
During my administration not cent
ctnfa'c f11$,I In T..
appropriated, so far as I am advised, or
have been able to ascertain. I mention
this tact, not for the purpose of claim
ing any personal credit For the excel
lent management Of our state funds Mr..
koerner, the retiring treasurer, is in a
large measure entitled to the credit, and
| accord it to him cheerfully. This state
has never had more prudent, pains
taking or conscientious servant. I am
equally certain that if the gentleman
whom you have this day nominated to
succeed him is elected, the same may be
truly said OF him two years hence, as I
say 1T OF the outgoing treasurer today.
FROM INSURANCE DEPART
MENTS.
A goodly portion of the surplus in the
treasury has been contributed by the
ethc1ent work of the commissioner of
insurance. Instead of the $4,000 in
taxes collected by the insurance depart
ment IN 1893, $2o8,ooo was collected last
year. These figures were in a large
measure due to examinations made by
the department OF companies writing in
land marine insurance and transacting
business with nonresident brokers and
operating through pools AS result of
these examinations $500 has been COL
lected IN back taxes on premiums not
reported in former years-in one in
stance as far back as 1901. In addition
to this that department has rendered
the people of the state most excellent
service in wedding out the numerous
take and speculative insurance COM
panles that were preying upon the cred
ullty OF the people and robbing them
right and left under various schemes of
hail, fire and life insurance.
EFFICIENT DAIRY DEPART
MENT.
The dairy department has rendered
most efficient service in executing the
laws now on the statute books against
the adulteration of food articles and in
prosecuting the illicit sale Of oleomar-'
garlne, imitation butter and 1nanufac-
tured lard, by the Enforcement of the
laws in that behalf. Of the administra-
ton OF the dairy and food department I
teel justified in saying that never before
in the history of the state were the dairy
and farming interests so efficiently de-
tended and aided as in the last two
years.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
The general progress of the state has
been nowhere more marked than in the
matter of education. During the yea:
just closed, Our permanent school fund
grew nearly $1,000, 600 substantially all
of which has been carefully invested in
permanent securities of the highest
character. The permanent fund of the
university has also been increased near
ly 100000, bringing it up almost to the
million dollar mark. These matters,
while gratifying to us politically, are
more significant to us as citizens, and to
our children after u.s.. With a careful
administration Of Our wealth OF swamp
land, on the lines that I have indicated.
and by proper legislation to secure and
save the mineral rights, I hope to live
to see the day when the permanent
school fund of this state will reach the
magnificent sum of $50 1000, ooo
Promising as is the financial situation
of Our school system, the progress on
the educational side has been even
greater. Our university continues to
advance both as to the number of it's
students and in the quality and charac-
ter of its work. Its cultural influence
and power are being felt more and more
among the people of the state in every
relation of life. Our normal schools are
doing good work. Their standard of
excellence is advancing. The same is
true Of our high schools. But in no
department under the states care has
greater progress been made than in our,
common schools and for no interest
committed in part to my charge have I
felt greater solicitude. or keener interest,
The common school divides with the
home the duty of building American
character. AS are Our common schools
in this, SO will our homes and institu-
tons be in the next generation Pur-
suant to the recommendation of our ef-
ficlent state superintendent, the last leg
lslature amended our school law so as
to require all teachers certificates, ex-
cept temporary permits to teach under