The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-03-01
COMMISSION REPORTS.
FavOrs Board of Control as Re.
suit of Its Investigation.
Find Wisconsin and Iowa Institutions
Well Managed.-.After the Road
Commission"

st. Paul, Feb. 26.-The commits
sioners appointed by Governor Van
SAINT to investigate the board of con-
troll system in neighboring states re-
turned yesterday and their report is
in the hands of the governor.
The commissioners spent two weeks
in Wisconsin and Iowa, with flying
trips to institutions in Illinois and
Michigan. They will report very fully
on conditions as they found them, and
their work will be of considerable SER
vice to the joint committee and the
members of the Legislature
Messrs. Lee, Morey and Leavitt, the
commissioners, refuse to anticipate
the publication, but they had per-
sonal interview with the governor, and
from their conversation it is evident
that they will strongly commend the
board of control idea. They will report
that in Wisconsin and Iowa the system
has saved money; that politics for
merly dominated the institutions,
while now they are conducted on bust
ness principles, and positions are filed
according to merit. They will also
report that there has been no deterior-
alton in care aud condition of inmates.
The commissioners found that in
Wisconsin and Iowa the educational
institutions are not under the board of
control The bill now before the Min
nesota legislature gives the board
supervisory control over these institu-
tions and the report will recommend
that this provision be struck out.
They will also recommend change in
the bill, doing away with the separate
treasurers of institutions, and requir-
ing all warrants to go through the
hands of the state auditor and state
treasurer.
In Illinois the commission found
the same system in vogue as in Min
nesota. There is much dissatisfaction
there and an attempt will be made
this winter to adopt the Wisconsin
plan. Michigan operates its institu
tions very satisfactorily without a
board of control.
The country members of the legisla-
ture are planning to abolish the phan-
tom state highway commission,
which stands between the legislature
and the state road and bridge fund. A
constitutional amendment adopted in
1898, by popular vote, authorized the
Legislature to provide for such COM
mission, using the following language
The Legislature is also authorized to
provide for the appointment by the
governor of the state of board to be
known as the Estate highway COM
mission consisting of three mem
bers, who shall perform such duties as
shall be prescribed by law, without
salary or compensation other than
personal expenses.
Such commission shall have general
superintendent of the construction
of state roads and bridges, and shall
use such fund in the construction
thereof and distribute the same in the
several counties in the state upon an
equitable basis.
The legislature of 1899 was not so
favorably disposed to the idea as the
legislature of 1897 which submitted
the amendment to the people. They
took no action to carry the amend
ment into effect, and there is no such
commission in existence. The attor-
ney general has tied the hands of the
Legislature by his opinion that the
road and bridge fund cannot be dis
bursed by the legislature, as long as
the constitution provides for a com
mission. Many needed improvements
are impeded and the lawmakers are
impatient. They are still opposed to
creating a commission, and will I'M
dertake TO remove it from the books
altogether. A constitutional amend
ment abolishing the commission will
be introduced this week.
Many attorneys in the legislature do
not agree with the attorney general
and hold that as long as the legisla-
ture has not provided for commits
sion, the legislature itself is still en-
powered to disburse the fund They
call attention to the opening clause
of the amendment, 1.-THE legislature is
also authorized, and say that the
Legislature is only authorized, and not
directed; that as long as no commits
sion has been provided for, the legis-
lature retains the right to make ap-
preparations out of the fund They
are so sure of this position that reso-
luton has been introduced in the
house calling for another opinion from
the attorney general, in the hope that
he will change his former ruling Mr..
Douglas is now in Washington, and
will not be back until next week.