The Saint Paul globe., 1905-04-10
MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1905
A PARTY SCANDAL

We do not care to enter upon a die
cueHion of the different methods OF tn
specting illuminating oils and their re-
spective merits. We know little about
the facts. and are eonseled I'm our igs
nerance by the assurance that nobody
else knows anything more. You win
hear solemnly wise discussions about
the gravity test and the fiash test the
other is an srrant hunbug, You will
and men who believe that state In
shection is the only check upon moa
nopoly and safeguard of the people.
and equally sincere and intelligent men
who hold that the abolition of the ens
tire inspection system would iniure no
one. In this controversy the people
themselves take. we are Convinced.
very little interest.
There In feature or the question.
however. which is and has been from
The first of public moment. because II
has been no less than a public scandal
II is more seandalduH today than ~ ever
was before. This Is the plainly stated
and admitted fact that the system of
oil inspection as at present established
ana administered in this state is moth.
Ing more than a machine FOR the coll
lection and distribution of politioal
plunder. The inspection Is practically
farce The real purpose Of the law
rs now executed is to put In effiee an
Official named chief oil inspector. who
shall appoint a big force of deputies
throughout the different eoiturses of
The state. all expected to do heavy noe
Htical work FOR the Inspection fees
that are divided among them. This
means That large amount of money is
paid for oil inspection. paid by the
people. because every such charge is
eventually Imposed upon the consumer
IN an addition to price. collected by the
authority Of the state. aud then t,irns
ed over to the agency of the party In
power for the reward OF workers i'm tbe
past and The encouragement of bslpers
In future campaigns.
Republicans are more outsp,issn
about this since a Democratic seva,,,a,
was elected. II is wonderful how vir=
tuous they have become. and how fbai,
eyes have been opened to moral diff.
terenees since they ceased TO enntrel
oil the departments of state, They
have learned that If is not safe Il, lat n
governor take charge of the esritai
building. They have learned thai II is
grave error TO permit the geVetnor's
secretary 10 receive netarjsI fass, A
realizing sense OF the ihiduity of turn
Ing over the huge sum annually sai.
ieetea from Insurance companies for
She benefit OF an insurance Commits
sioner has como home to them, Tbev
are even beginning to ponder tipon. tba
proptiety of the state oil inspection
system The rsking open OF all these
dark places fliled with Republican mis-
doing and stored with Rspublies,
plunder, is ono OF the happy conss.
quenees OF the vote of last November,
These scandals which the Repub.
Hean party has fastened upon the state
ought 70 be removed. The G1ebe
believes that It speaks for Democracy
when IT rejects the afeanett that on
sdVsHtsgs, If 1t be Unjust, ought to be
PetaiF4ed beeeitse another political
party fathefea II. Do away with ali
these schemes for aiding shy political
party at public expense. Let Us kaye
cur public offices e6nBeteHtIy flied by
men to whom an adequate salary is as