The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-01-06


struct suitable buildings for their care
and maintenance No one has ques-
toned the Justice of caring for the old
soldier and if there is justice in MAX
ing provision for him there is no valid
reason why those directly dependent
upon him should be denied the COM
forts which the state owes.
DAIRY AND FOOD.
In 10 field of production has the
state made greater progress during
past years than in dairying and ami
NAL husbandry. Within a compare
lively brief period the commonwealth
has emerged from the list of grain
growing districts and has established
herself as the greatest dairy state in
the Union. The superiority of this
product has been established at every
national contest held in recent years.
Mum erouS agencies have been Jointly
responsible for the growth and produc-
ton and the improvement in the quail
ity of our dairy product. The agricul-
tural school of the state university and
the experimental station maintained
there have been potent factors in the
realization of this desirable condition
The dairy and food department of our
own state government has also been a
conspicuous factor in the upbuilding
OF this industry and has also accom-
plished much in preventing harmful
authorizations of food products The
state can well afford to pursue the
most liberal policy toward both of
these agencies. Legislation is neceS-
saly, especially with relation to the
matter OF pure food, and these laws
should be framed upon the idea of edu-
cation and development rather than
persecution.
FORESTRY.
The subject of forestry, while receiv-
Ing considerable attention by a num-
Der of our people, is entitled to more
consideration than has usually been
given it at previous sessions of the
legislature. The general laws of 1873
provided compensation for planting
and cuitivating trees on prairie land
and along highways. The paying of
compensation in the form of bounties
for planting trees on highways was
later discontinued, but bounties for
tree planting on prairie land aggre-
eating $4,000 a year have since been
paid. A tax for this purpose of one
tenth of one mill was provided for in
1881. but as it was found to yield more
than $4,000 per year it was abolish
ed by the general laws of 1895, when
an auunal appropriation of $4,000 was
substituted in its place. The ques-'
ton has been raised as to whether
this system of tree planting bounties
has not served its purpose and could
now be discontinued. The members
Of the legislature from prairie counties
should best be able to determine this
matter.
The forest preservation act of 1895
made town supervisors in the vicinity
of forests and prairie lands fire war
dens and made it their duty to take
necessary precaution for the proven
tion as we'll as the eXtinguishment of
fires.
The lack of proper compensation
has resulted in very inefficient service
On the part of wardens thus selected.
Our present system should be strength
ened SO that it will meet the dangers
which might arise through an excep-
tional drought.
EXAMINATION OF CITY ACCOUNTS
In view of the vast sums of public
NCiiCNLCu anu OloOuiS Gu NY
cities Of the first class, such as Min
neapolis. st. Paul and Duluth, there
is sentiment among the taxpayers
OF those cities that the city finances
should be subject to the same state
supervision by the public examiner as
that now given to county finances In
Minneapolis, for example, the annual
tax levy and expenditure approximate
nd ie am
inatiOn and audit of the accounts of
the city comptroller and treasurer, ex-
cept that of committee of aldermen
who co not claim to be accountants or
to make an expert examination. The
of Minneapolis is apparent in the pub
lished reports Of the city council.
wherein it is shown that large sums
are unaccounted for. The legislature
of 1891 passed a special act, now in
force, giving state inspection of city
accounts to ST. Paul and an extension
of the same. kind or similar provisions
to all cities would appear to be right
step in the direction of municipal
credit. economy and retrenchment.
In framing our form of government
the final guarantee of the preservation
vi tllC IlUeIlicS III Tic pSOpiC Wuo NCoC-
ed in the judiciary. 1t was deemed
that an Independent judiciary was
sufficient protection against oppres-
sion and unconstitutional legislation.
It is felt that under our present sys-
ten OF selecting judges, through par
tisan conventions, these objects are
not fully attained. There is a general
demand for some change in the system
of selecting the judiciary. To accon;-
plish change from oar present sys-
TEN two methods have been suggested,
enc being founded upon the national
ideas of appointment and life tenure,
the other by separate election held
in the spring of the year at the time
of the annual town and village cleo
tons. Of the two systems the latter,
in my opinion, is preferable. Under u
primary election law it is impossible
to nominate !. non-partisan judiciary
and | would, therefore, recommend
thai this law be so amended as to
eliminate judicial offices from it's pro-
visions and that law be enacted
which will provide for a separate jul
dicial election.
CONCLUSION.
We ere assembled today in the new
capitol of the state This splendid