The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-01-13
GOV. j. A. JOHNSON
MAKES ADDRESS
His First Annual Message Deals With Facts That
Are of General Interest to All Citizens
of this Great Commonwealth.

sixty per cent of the public school popula-
ton is enrolled and the great majority
Of the pupils and students attending them
ceived there. or over half million pu-
pills in all the public schools during the
past year, more than one-half are en-
the primitive method still employed. the
pupils attendant upon the rural schools
lack the advantage of well constructed
buildings, adequate books and library,
trained and experienced teachers, and in
addition thereto are subject to the dis
advantage Of living remote from the
school house. The primary education Of
the youth is the real basis of our citizen
couragement of the early training of our
youth should be employed. The induce
Should be held out by every possible as
sistance of the state. I suggest that there
is much occasion for Improvement in our
ing, lighting and ventilation, with view
to the greater comfort of the pupils. To
secure this result would recommend the
adoption, of some general plan whereby
Structed In the future upon plans sub
mitted to and approved by competent au-
thority. believe the special state aid
much to raise the standard and increase
the efficiency of rural schools. and 1 trust
this liberal policy will be continued. Ade-
quate and Intelligent supervision for this
class of schools is as essential as for
those in towns and cities. To obtain this,
l think a change in our law is necessary
not only be paid adequately for their
services but which will also insure more
competent supervision. Their salaries
should be at least commensurate with
those of school supervisors in cities who
do like amount Of work and in return
for a proper compensation, there should
be some requirement which would guar
antee professional service in the supervi-
sion OF our rural schools. Believing that
the educational system of our state should
be divorced from partisan polite, politics as far
should be chosen because Of their educa-
tional qualifications instead OF their par
tisan politics, 1 would urge and recon-,
mend such changes in our laws as would
provide a county board of educa ton
whose duty would include the appoint
ment of a county superintendent and
such other school duties only as are now
performed by the board of county COM
miSSioners.
During the last ten years the duties
imposed upon the department OF public
the working force during all this time
has increased with but a single clerk and
the funds at the disposal Of the depart
creased. In view of the Increased duties
Of this department touching every branch
of our public schools and other educa-
sistant, and that the permanent fund Of
the working force Of the Office be made
$4,000 annually.
TIMBER TRESPASS AND MINERAL
LEASES.
The public examiner of Minnesota
states in his Official report that hundreds
of thousands of dollars are due the state
-i,y -reap0f-so& Sfmbcr treSpdSS, anu urges
suits for the collection of the amounts
due. He states further, that suits have
been instituted for the recovery of back
taxes due the state from railway COM
panies. The work of prosecuting these
cases has been delayed, he reports, by
the inability of the attorney general to
reach them because of a multitude Of
other duties There should be no cessa-
ton in the prosecution of these claims,
and l would suggest to you the advisa-
bility OF makins provision. with sufficient
approximation, for the employment Of spe-
lecting the amounts claimed to be due
the state. The auditor, in his report,
makes reference also to timber trespass.