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, 100000
and it Is estimated that when all the
school lands are sold it will reach the
vast sum of $3O.000.C00. BY a wise pro-
vision Of the law only the interest can
secured in this way for educational puI-
poses. The fund is to remain intact for
ever. We are indebted for this magnifi-
cent fund to Hon. Alexander Ramsey,
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 aha
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, Pillsbury and Nelson. This
magnificent fund is a monument to the
who have controlled the Republican
party. Not only have we this large fund,
but our schools are unexcelled. Our great
university takes front rank with any
similar institution in the country, and our
school of agriculture is rearing genera
tion 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 special effort to promote and
make more efficient the rural schools. TINS
is proper, for in these schools so 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 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 1t. The road was new
one. The greatest source of trouble has
been when there have been two boards
endearvOring to manage the same 1nstiti'-
tions. In such cases there is always a
conflict, for 1t is difficult to ascertain
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 favor1ng
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 1t. 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
before. This is especially true Of the
farmers. All see the necessity. of pre-
serving this valuable source of food sup
".
every effort made in this direction. That
the board is doing most excellent work
is evidenced by the fines collected for the
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 does, to many mil
commend the splendid work of the COM
mission.
BUREAU OF LABOR.
On our statute books are some of the
one of the five medals that were awarded
as first prizes at the Paris exposition in
1900 for the best labor laws, and dlplo,
ma from the proper authorities of that
exposition now hangs on the wall in the
| office of the commissioner of labor at the
capitol, certifying to these facts. Among
to with pride are those relating to chif1
| 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
of the working people; a general factory
! inspection law; laws for the protection O.
railway employees; the eight-hour law
and many others The factory inspectors
nf this department during the year 1901
report inspection of 3,647 establishments
| heeG issued for the protection and-Safe-
guarding of machinery and for improving
| the sanitary condition of the factories
| mills and workshops The inspectors OF
| structions along the lines of the more ad.
| vanced scientific systems Of drainage ant
| ventilation. Hapd in hand with inspec
! tion has gone the collection of data re.
| lating to all departments of labor; hence
| We find that the several new and specia
| Investigations that this department is
wage-earners have been received with un
! usual approval throughout the state, ane
| have attracted much attention in Other
| states of the Union. The bureau of labor
was created at the instance of the labor
| ing people, for the express purpose of en-
+ forcing the laws that were then, or might
be hereafter. enacted for the protection
| of the rights of the thousands who 60 II
| make up that great army of useful citi
| zens, the working people. 1t has been my
desire, and my instructions to the com
| 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
| preparation of $4,000 was made for drain
| age purposes. Pursuant to said act tn,
| commission, composed of the governor
! the auditor and the secretary of state
have taken the necessary steps to make
| 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 be com
! pleted by the end of thu year. 1t is diff
I cult to measure the benefits derived from
| these state ditches Thousands of acre.
of land belonging to both the state nnt
! to settlers have been much improved an(
have greatly increased in yaIue. and mucl
/ pie living in the section of state whert
| drainage has proved such blessing hav,
! reason to thank the Republican party fo
/ inaugurating and continuing this work.
| TAXATION.
Probably no subject which now con
4 fronts the people of our state ELECTS NOR
/ interest and is Of greater importance
/ common knowledge that our tax laws ar
inefficient and that as a consequence
very large percentage of taxable prOpert,
escapes the lists. While we all recogniz
| the fact that it is practically impossible
! to frame a perfect coue of tax measures
| practicable. the primary purpose of ia,
legislation. which is to place upon tn
/ lists all property subject to taxation, an,
j distribute the burdens justly and equitab
| ly. At the same time it is important II
framing tax legislation TO bear in min,
1 contributed to the building up OF on
state and which make Minnesota one o
1 the most conspicuous states Of the Union
/ No legislation should be adopted whicl
1 will be unjust to these interests or ham
per their prosperity. However. the,
| taxation and thus assist in the main
fena nee of the state as an e0uiva lent fo