The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-07-10

source OF pride to every citizen OF our
state; it now amounts to about $15, OO0,0O0
and it is estimated that when all the
school lands are sold it will reach the
vast sum of $3O,OO0,G00. By a wise pro-
be used, and annually about 100000 is
secured in this way for educational pur-
poses. The fund is to remain intact for
ever. We are indebted for this magnln-
Minnesota's first governor, more than to
any other man living or dead. He it was
who so carefully guarded the interests OF
the people, and when land SHARKS anu
SPECTATORS were about to defraud the
state he interposed his veto. He is easily
the peer of any other man who ever oc-
cupied the gubernatorial chair, and that is
high compliment when it is remembered
that that position was once held by
Davis, a Pillsbury and Nelson. This
magnificent fund is a monument M to the
who have controlled the Republican
party. Not only have we this large fund,
but our schools are unexcelied. our great
university takes front rank with any
similar institution in the country, and our
school of agriculture is rearing genera
ton Of intelligent, thrifty and cultured
men and women for farm life. Our nor
NAL and high schools are the very best.
The superintendent of public instruction
is making a special effort to promote and
make more efficient the rural schools. This
is proper, for in these schools 80 per cent
of our children receive all the education
they will ever get to prepare them for
citizenship. These schools should be as
efficient as it is possible to make them
BOARD OF CONTROL.
The board of control will, 1 am led to
believe, make a most excellent showing
when its annual report is presented to the
public. 1t has had many difficulties to
meet and many prejudices to overcome.
In our state there have been no prece-
dents to guide it. The road was new
one. The greatest source of trouble has
been when there have been two boards
pn6oa rUnrinpr n the lnStlti, Z"
tions. In such cases there is always a
conflict, for it is difficult to ascertain
where the authority of the one ceases and
that of the other begins. This should be
reme6ied. In my judgment the educa-
tional institutions should not have been
placed under its management; it was not
the intention of those originally favorinS
a board of control plan: 1t is not for the
best interests of the schools, and besides
the board has not the time to do the eX-
ira work which this entails upon it: The
next legislature should amend the bill IN
this respect, and no doubt other changes
will need to be made from time to time.
The board of control, in my judgment,
will grow in public favor.
GAME AND FISH.
Public sentiment in our state favors
game and fish protection, and the COM
mission has the earnest and hearty CO.
opertion Of the people this year as never
farmers. All see the necessity. of pre-
serving this valuable source of food sup
ply Our sportsmen, too, ably second
every effort made in this direction: That
is evidenced by the fines collected for the
violation of the laws; said fines being
nearly double those collected during the
same time by it's immediate predecessor.
The same is true with reference to the
amount received from the confiscation of
game and fish. The distribution of fish to
replenish our streams and lakes is the
largest ever known, and when the i'm
provements now making at the hatchery
are completed, facilities for doing this
work will be fully twice as great as they
are now. When we consider as an asset
the value of the game and fish of Mime
sofa, amounting as 1t does, to many mil
lions of dollars, we deem it but just to
commend the splendid work of the COM
mission. ',... ...--...
BUREAU OF LABOR.
On our statute books are some of the
very best labor laws. Our state received
one of the five medals that were awarded
1900 for the best labor laws, and a diplo
ma from the proper authorities of thai
exposition now hangs on the wall in the
office of the commissioner of labor at the
capitol, certifying to these facts. Anon:
the many labor laws that we can poin
to with pride are those relating to chif-
labor; laws regulating the education anc
employment of children and prohibiting
the employment of children at dangerous
or in immoral occupations; laws for the
protection of the health, lives and limbs
nL the people, general
inspection law; laws for the protection O.
railway employees; the eight-hOur law
and many others. The factory inspector:
nf this department during the year 100
report inspection of 3,647 establishments
employing 1888 persons, 5S1 orders have
heeE issued for the protection and-Safe
guarding of machinery and for improving
the sanitary condition of the factories
mills and workshops The inspectors q
this department have received special in
structions along the lines of the more ad
vanced scientific systems Of drainage ant
ventilation. Hapd in hand with inspec
ton has gone the collection of data re
lating to all departments of labor; henc
We find that the several new and specia
investigations that this department il
making into the conditions SURROUNDING
wage-earners have been received with un
usual approval throughout the state, an(
have attracted much attention in othel
was created at the instance of the labor
ing people, for the express purpose Of en-
I forcing the laws that were then, or nigh
he hereafter. enacted for the protection
of the rights of the thousands who go II
make up that great army of useful citi
zens, the working people: 1t has been m!
missioner of labor have always been, tt
see that the work of the bureau has beer
administered for the purpose for which i
was created.
DRAINAGE.
BY an act Of the last legislature an ap
age purposes. Pursuant to said act thu
commission, composed of the governor
the auditor and the secretary of state
have taken the necessary steps to maxi
the same effective. Several bitches arr
about completed, and all the others pos
| sible under the appropriation are con
tracted for. The entire work, will he com
pleted by the end of tn year. 1t is diff
cult to measure the benefits derived from
these state bitches. Thousands of acres
of land belonging to both the state. ant
to settlers have been much improved ant
have greatly increased in vaIue. and mucl
waste land has been reclaimed. The PEG
pie living in the section of state wher,
drainage has proved such a blessing hav,
reason to thank the Republican party TO
inaugurating and continuing this work.
TAXATION.
Probably no subject which now con
fronts the people of our state ELECTS NOR
interest and is of greater importanc
than that of taxation. 1t is matter 0
| common knowledge that our tax laws ar
inefficient and that as consequence I
very large percentage of taxable propert.
escapes the lists. While we all recogniz
the fact that it is practically impossible
to frame, a perfect code of tax measures
still we should strive to meet. as far a
practicable, the primary purpose of ia,
legislation. which is to place upon tn
lists all property subject to taxation, an,
distribute the burdens justly and equitab
ly. At the same time it is important II
framing tax legislation TO bear in min,
contributed to the building up Of GU
state and which make Minnesota one O
| the most conspicuous states of the Union
No legislation should be adopted whicl
will he unjust to these interests or ham
! per their prosperity. However. the,
taxation and thus assist in the main
tenance of the state as an equivalent TO