The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-02
Elective or Appointive?

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Elective or Appointive2
Once more there is talk Of return
ing to the old system OF an appointive
railroad and warehouse commission.
Prominent members Of the legislature
have expressed the opinion that the
present law. providing for an elective
commission. which dates from 1899,
should be repealed.
Up to date the working of that law
has been disappointment. The res
publican state convention in 1900 was
tricked into giving two. of the three
places on the commission to men de-
sired by the railroads. These two
members are finishing four-year terms,
and they have controlled the policy
OF, this branch of the state govern
ment since they have been in office.
They are now asking for new lease
of power.
There is an almost unlimited field
Of usefulness for the railroad and
warehouse commission. No one asks
the members of the commission to be
unjust toward the railroad companies,
but they are the chosen representa-
tives of the people and should be on
the alert to protect the interests Of
shippers and consumers. If they go
too far, they can be checked by the
courts. If they do not go far enough.
there is no remedy. In the last four
years the commission has confined its
work to routine matters. IT has as
sumed a high judicial air, weighing
complaints as they came in, but never
taking the initiative, and seldom
touching questions vital to the public.
The urnal does not mainA
tain that the commissioners have
acted unjustly. It is not what they.
have done that is complained Of, but
what they have left undone. They
have failed. to realize what they are,
there for.
So the elective system has worked
badly, and in the light Of experience
it seems certain that better results
could be secured from an appointive
commission, responsible to the gov
ernor. $ There is another chance for
the elective system. The next repub-
lican state convention may replace Ira
B. Mills and Joseph G. Miller and select
two men for the service Of the com
mission who are known to be indie
pendent and progressive, who will
join with Commissioner Staples in a
new policy. But unless such improve
ment is made, and the public has re-
newed confidence in the commission,
we may look for a change next winter.
| If the law is to be made over, it
ought to be made right, and provide
for civil service in the grain depart
ment. Places in the inspection and
weighing department ought not to be
prizes Of political activity, subject to
change every two years. Expert
knowledge is required of the inspect
| ors, and it Is a waste, to train men to
efficiency and then drop them be-
cause their politics are off color. There
ought not to be any politics in the
| department. With an efficient corps
under civil service rules, there would
be no need for more than one mar
at the head Of the department. There
are too many chances to shirk labor
and responsibility when there ar,
three responsible heads. One com
missioner with good legal advise
and a competent deputy could do al
the work and carry the whole 1oat
Of responsibility. It would mean les
Offices and less red tape, and it ough
to bring better results. =.
It is up to the state convention t.
show whether change in the law i
necessary. We can stand the electiv
system if it gives us the right sor
Of men. But, as The j ourn a
pointed out once before, 1t is nc
I. enough to- throw out the old commits
sioners and put in new ones. Their
is danger that the convention may "g
farther and fare worse