Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-11-02

1p0CAAC CudI6o 0d6 Vec0 ~du0
against the departments work that
has not been cleared up to the entire
satisfaction OF the complainant, the
investigation invariably showing that
the departments position was just and
right.
Under Olausen, hundxeds of thou
sands OF dollars were lost to the pro-
ducers of Minnesota through unjust
der ;Reishus thousands have been saw
cofding them no more than was just
between the two administrations by
grades.
Under the old regime, for example,
employees were retained on the pay
roll whether their services were re-
Quired or not; under Reishus these
useless appendages were dispensed
with as soon as the complexion of
the railroad commission permitted.
To Illustration Nov. 3rd last In
spector Reishus pointed out to the
commission that the services of
Cashier Becker, Deputy Curtis and
Helper Kirk, of the St. Paul Office,
could we'll be dispensed with and
recommended their discharges. The
commission, at that time however, was
not in harmony with the admfnistra-
ton, Mills and Becker being in the
majority, and by vote of two to one
decided to ignore the inspectors sug-
gestiOn. Cashier Becker was accord
ingly allowed to draw salary till the
18th Of December and the other two
until the beginning of the new year.
Whereas had the inspector been al
lowed to let them out, when he found
that their services were not required,
instead of being compelled to wait
until Knox succeeded Commissioner
Mills, the saving to the department
in salaries alone would have been
over $500. A small amount you may
say, but sufficient at least to show
the difference between the two ad
ministrations in their conceptions of
duty and economy.
Again under Clausen it was the GUS
tom of the inspectors to appropriate
grain samples for their own profit.
The effect of this practice certainly
was nothing if not demoralizing. Be-
sides the petty jealousies and tricks
resorted to by those eager to secure
their share Of the plunder, there was
always the temptation to take I'M
necessarily large and numerous sam
pies. Cars could thus be looted of
thousands of dollars in the course of
time without the slightest fear of de-
lection. Estimating the value of the
samples at no more than $1,000 year,
which is unquestionably low figure,
the aggregate taken from the ship
pers and growers and converted into
the pockets of the inspectors under
Republican rule amounted to no less
than $4,000, snug sum, to say the
least, with which to perpetuate this
and other abuses.
Under the department as organized
by Commissioners Ringdahl and Knox
all this has been changed. The de-
partment now sells the samples and
devotes the proceeds to defraying the
expenses of inspection. This is as it
should be. The samples belong to the
shippers, and inasmuch as it is i'm
practicable to return them to their
rightful owners, distributed as they
are through several states, it is but
proper that the proceeds should go to
curtailing the expenses of Inspection,
which the shippers have to meet. Any
other disposition would be irregular,
unbusinesslike and contrary to law.
Since stopping the practice, in vogue
under Clausen, over $1,700 have been
turned into the inspection fund from
the sale of samples and this too in
less than a year.
Now, is there a farmer, shipper
or business man anywhere who in
view Of these facts, will not concede
that the inspection service has been
improved, that the integrity of the
officials has been strengthened, and
that it is to the interest of the state
and the general welfare to retain in
Office men who will institute such re-
forms?
The statements made from the be-
ginning to the end of this article are
facts borne out by the records and by
the testimony of farmers in every
grain growing county in the state.
They are facts which it behooves
every citizen to consider, not from
the standpoint of partisanship but
from the standpoint of business and
common sense.
Governor Lind and the men whom
he appointed to undertake these re-
forms Commissioners Ringdahl and
Knox-are candidates for reelection.
Associated with them, as the third
candidate for railroad commissioner.
is that sterling and honest citizen, S.
M. Owen. -.
Can you afford to defeat them and
thereby run the risk of return of the
old state of affairs?
Think it over and we feel assured
that as citizens, desiring integrity in
the management of affairs and zeal for
the public interest, you will cast your
votes for John Lind for Governor, and
Ringdahl, Knox and Owen for rail-
road commissioners. The continuance
of fair and economical administration
Of the grain department will be as
sured if entrusted to their hands.
Bryan In New York.
A second time great leader has
come out Of the west to teach us of the
east that there are obligations in life
outside Of the counting house and that
the rights and brotherhood, CT man
oo-~o% IL, ;or,oro1 thu nation ic m