The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-11
CASE Of HOUSE CLEANING
REPUBLICANS PROPOSE TO DO IT
THEMSELVES INSTEAD OF LEAV-
ING 1T TO THE DEMOCRATS
SEE THE NEED OF ECONOMY
Get Up a Row In Their Own Camp
Attorney General After Sa-
looms and Blind
Piggers

BISMARCk, N. d., Feb. 10.-(Spect1l)
A more business like administrator CT
affairs is the motto of the present ad-
ministration, and the move in this d.
rection is being furthered by the legis-
1ature, as evidenced in the report of the
specia! committee to the senate. AS ex-
pressed by one Republican: ut is better
for the Republicans of the state to do
their own house cleaning than to leave
it for the opposition to make political
capital Of" Consequently the commit
tee has gone through the business of
the several departments, ferreted what
Irregularities it has come across and re-
ported them to the legislature for &C
ton.
If the recommendations of the commit
tee are followed out there will De more
economical administration of STATE af-
fairs for the coming two years. CllFk
hire in the departments is generally
recommended to be cut down. A cut of
$1,000 is made in the clerk hire In several
of the principal departments. The treas
urer's Office is allowed to remain as at
present, because the work in that de-
partment is growing and requires all
the assistance that can be afforded with
the present amount of clerk hire.
In several departments the proposed
reductions would mean the dispensing
with a stenographer. A change is REG
commended also in the mode of pay
ment of the reporter Of the supreme
court, John NJ. Cochrane, Of Grand
Forks. Two years ago a bill was pass
ed giving him 81 500 a year for his serv-
ices. Now 1t Is recommended that he
be paid $500 a volume for the supreme
court reports compiled. This will mean
a considerable reduction in his compen-
sation.
The adjutant generals office seems to
be the object for all economists. Gov.
White recommended in his message that
the salary be cut in two Now the spe-
cial committee comes to the front with a
recommendation that the Office be abol-
ished so far as salary is concerned.
States receiving aid for the guard
from the general government are requir-
ed to have an adjutant general, how
ever, so If the committees recommended
ton is followed the officer will have TO
serve without pay. There will also be
a reduction in the force of the exami-
ner's office If the recommendations of
the special committee are followed out.
At present the force in the office con-
sists of examiner, assistant and deputy.
The recommendations Tor salary for the
ensuing two years provide only for an
examiner at $500 annually and an as
sistant at $1,000 annually. Whether the
work required to be done in this de-
partment can be done by two men is
questionable with some who have had
experience but the special committee
thinks it can be, and they have looked
into the matter and ought to know.
The question of the contract system
of eEgrossing and enrolling bills which
is brought up by the special commSfee
is an interesting one, and may be pro-
ductive of some step in this direction. At
every legislative session there is a con
siderable expenditure for engroSSlng and
enrolment which 1t is claimed could
be much cheaper done If the work were
let out at contract to the lowest bidder.
1t is a question If many of the mem
hers would not favor this to escape
the biennial opportunities of applicants
for clerical positions with the legislative
assembly. On the other hand, these
places have always been looked upon
as a part of the political spotls of the
state and as the salaries are paid out
into channels OF business In the state
there is a large element that 8 es 40
great evil in the system.
The bill for the special tax for the
maintenance of the State Agricultural
college as part of the common school
system of the state indicates that there
is a way to find funds for the support
OF some OF the state educational insl-
buttons without drawing on the general
fund of the state The bill provides
for a tax of a fifth OF a mill annually
to be levied and extended by coun audi
tors in each Of the counties. Tn -wou q
not be classed as part OF the state
tax which is annually levied for gener-
al state purposes, this including the sup
port of the institutions. The limit OF
state taxes for this purpose of mills
and the levy for the past few years has
been nearly up to the maximum. II pro
vision could be made by some special
tax to raise funds for some of the insi-
tl,tions it would relieve the general fund
Of the state and enable it to catch up.
The action of the state board OF UNI
versity and school lands In authorizing
tho sale of public school and institution
lands this spring follows upon the agi-a-
tion for some action Of this Kind to raise
ready cash for the purchase of bonds by
the permanent school fund and to provide
a fund whose interest may be drawn
upon for the support of the institutions.
Each institution in the state is endowed
with q large acreage of land which may
be sold, and the principal arising from
the sale be kept in trust for the lnstitu-
lions, they to have the interest for ma n
tenance All that could be raised in
this way would be so much relief to the
general fund of the state.
The constitution fixes the debt limit OF
the state at $500 900, in addition to what
was the debt assumed by the state at the
time OF the division of the territory Of
Dakota The debt limit of the state is
extremely small, but there has always
been a howl whenever 1t was suggested
to Increase Senator Little now has
bill in fer a constitutional amendment to
raise the limit to five mills on the as
sessed valuation. This would give a slid
ing limit, to accord with the growth of
the state. instead Of the present fixed
sum.
There is a little more interest in BIS
marck this year in the falling out which
began some time ago among the local
Republican leaders. AT that time Judge
Winchester issued a warrant for the ar
rest of Mayor Patterson for the seizure
Of gambling apparatus ana the closing
up Of place in the city, said to be
owned by the mayor The arrest AMI
seizure followed in due course, and, after
a hearing, the mayor was discha rged
but the roulette wheel seized at the time
was burned. AT the time Of making the
arrest the sheriff of the county did not
relish the manner in which his Official
integrity was reflected on and public
opinion placed him, In the roundup, as a
member Of the mayors faction and not
of the judges. Other developments are
coming in the matter. The constahes
elected for the county at the general
election last fall faile to qualify, as has
been the usual custom to give the sheriff
the bulk of the business but this time the
commissioners have appointed four con-