The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-10
Attorney Generals Reply.

The letter of Attorney General Young
given in reply is included in the mes
sage. The attorney. general reports
that the current business Of the office
industriously busy. He explains
that the state attorneys are always pit
ted against able counsel and the nature
of the cases requires the closest prepa-
ration. The railroad and warehouse
commission alone keeps one Of the two
assistants busy. In order to do Justice
to the important matters on hand, and
also to give the voluminous report Of the
public examiner the attention it must
have, the office will need at least an
other assistant and another stenograph
err. The attorney general also suggests
that the legislature provide better sal
aries for the assistants, SO the working
forces of the office could rank with
their competitors, and feel as if they
were getting some compensation for
their time and labor 49,.
Attorney General Young then says:
As to the policy to be adopted by this de-
partment in dealing with this matter, I beg to
suggest that there is but one policy proper to
be followed, in my opinion, and that is to closely
Investigate each transaction and enforce the law
to the letter. intend to pursue that course,
and will be exceedingly glad of the co-opera:
ton which you SO kindly offer: 1t is the prov,
determine what IS wise public policy. The ex-
ecutiye department has no right to question eth
er the wisdom, severity or justice of those
laws. but only to enforce them as they are
found in the books. 80. g.. ea-..
One thing in reference to this matter es
pecially suggests itself to my mind. and that
is that inasmuch as the enforcement of the laws
OF the state is necessarily confided so largely
to the governor and attorney general, these two,
Offices ought to be equipped by the legislature,
with proper facilities to make Investigations as
to the conditions Of the public property OF the
state from time to time independent of inves-
legations made from any other source, so that
they might keep some track of the matter
and also secure the necessary evidence to sup
port the states claims in either civil or GRIM
inal proceedings when it's property rights are
invaded. The evidence that may be discovered
from the records is seldom sufficient to sustain
an action upon, and the governor as general
guardian Of the public rights and the attorney
general prosecuting officer ought to have
ample facilities for making Investigations upol
the ground and not be entirely in the dark. 1t
seems to me that the power thus placed would
be the best lettering influence against wrong
doing that could be provided. In these mat
tiers the public wants simple and even-handed
justice. and that they must have. I will pro-
coed with the work as rapidly as possible.
Yours respectfully,
Edward T.. Young,
Attorney General.
P. s.-The action taken by my predecessor in
reference to these matters and the suit THAI
was brought by him against G. B. Buchanan
are fully explained in his letter of Dec. 16, 1904,
to his excellency. Governor Van SAINT
Governor Concurs.
From the letter of the attorney general
it is apparent that his present office force
is not sufficient in number to discharge
the volume of business now before him,
with the added duties which will result
from this investigation made by the pub
lie examiner. I most cheerfully recon-
mend and urge an increase in the work
Ing force Of the attorney generals office,
| in order that that office may be fully
equipped to perform the important duties
| which devolve upon it. The salaries OF
| the assistants to the attorney general are
altogether too low to demand the best
| possible talent and the best possible
service, and it would be wise economy
upon the part of the state to thoroly
equip the attorney general with the aie
necessary to a full and complete dis.
charge of the duties of that office, rather
| than to employ special counsel from time
to time to whom as in the past, large
and exorbitant fees must be paid. Yer.
respectfully, John A. Johnson,
Governor