The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-20

much the officer pleads or insists that
ne should have help or that the public
Interest," may demand it.
Erect of New Tax Law.
will IN conservative way estimate
what Will be necessary to in some de-
gTee aecomplish the work just before US
0emandlng attention. If new tax law
is passed it will for year or two
greatly increase the county work Of this
once. me new books, the closing of the
one off1eer to another, new forms, etc.,
II no tax law is passed a careful esti-
mate Of the work, the time it will re-
class OF men and help necessary to ac-
complish it-let US do nothing If we do
not do 1t Well-shows it necessary at a
low lev estimate for me o to havs: .oooo
One assistant examiner .............. 1900
One clerk or Office accountant. 1900
Two clerks ($9eO eacf) ............... 1900
Expense Of examiners in -field...... 5000
All other expenses, postage, tele-
grams, telephone, = travelling ex-
penses for public examiner .s..... 1000
Taxing from This fbe SD 900 that viii iii
be available next August leaves 81 300
unprovided for to rum the department I'M
til the next regular session Of the legis-
lature, January, 1903, at which time it is
provide an adequate permanent income
| for this department
Although practically all of the availa-
BILE funds were economically and care
fully expended prior to Feb. 1, 1902, less
| than one-half of the work required by
| law and public safety was accomplished,
which seems to be conclusive evidence Of
the irnpossibility to conduct this depart
| msnt without help from the legislature.
The public looks to us for the proper
conduct and administration of all pub
! lie oft!ces, including state and county;
| also all the financial institutions coming
under state Jurisdiction. and in order to
| be in a position to know that they are
| SO conducted and assist in properly car
| rvlng out the laws and furnish such law
fLl information as is required from time
| TO time, 1t is absolutely necessary that
| this department should be provided with
funds somewhere near adequate to meet
| the demand.
Opposed to Deficiencies.
As public examiner I am absolutely OPP
posed to asking the state officers to pay
and advance money creating a deficiency,
and believe it to be my duty to see to
| it that no department of state or county
exceed in their expenditures the money
actually on hand to the credit of the
| fund and department. and that chapter
| 30, q. l.. 1899, the title to which reads
| as follows:
IAN act to restrict and regulate dis
burSements and expenditures of money
| appropriated Dy legislature, and to pre-
| vent the several boards and officers from
| exceeding the amount so appropriated -
| should be enforced in all cases.
! This law, as / understand it, makes
the creating of deficiency a, crime, and
| therefore, even If it were not in accord
ance with my personal opinions, 1T would
! prevent me from attempting to spend
money not appropriated for this depart
nlent.
| TO sum up:
The law requires this department to do
| certain work
| The department has grown in public
confidence. Shall we let it again retro
| grade?
Heretofore an attempt has been made
1 to skim over and SO far as possible, give
at least superficial attention to as nearly
/ ali of it as possible doing some of it
| we'll, the rest simply glancing at.
Hereafter the money given by the leg
! islature will be spent in doing the work
| thoroughly, so far as 1t will go.
March J. 1902, will see all of the availa-
| bic money gone
This condition is fact and not a
! theory. 1t is not the fault of my pre-
! decessor, or any other man, but the re-
/ suit of the immense growth of our state
and county business, and of our financial
Institutions. an failure of the legisla-
ture to recognize and provide for a
growth of the department equal to the
! demand made upon it. ts,.s
The department can do but little good,
/ standing at q distance from either thu
| pablo officer who needs it's help, or the
| financial Institution under its supervision.