The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1905-09-21
Facts, Fancies and Fabrications Of
Other Pencil Pushers.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IMPORTANT.
Did it ever occur to the average
voter that the lieutenant governor had
as much, and in a majority of cases
more influence in shaping legislation,
than does the chief executive of the
state? The lieutenant governor by
virtue OF his office, is presiding officer
OF the state senate. He has the appoint
ment OF all committees in that body,
and it is traditional history that senate
committees are supreme so far as its
membership is concerned. 1t is there
fore easy to be seen that the lieutenant
governor has an opportunity to exer-
else great influence over legislation.
A committee of fifteen on railroad
legislation can be selected so that a
small majority are instruments in
the hands of the railroads, or are men
willing to enact some good, wholesome
legislation, just as the lieutenant
governor is disposed. Practically the
color OF all reports on railroad or other
important legislation rests with the
senate president. Yet, knowing these
facts, both political parties put forth
at times men of rather questionable
reputation, and at times men known
to be tied up ''soul and body" to in
fiuences that are known to be opposed
to "sqdare deal" for all the people
and all OF the interests of the state.
Ii we wished to defeat a popular legis-
latlye measure we would rather be
permitted to name the lieutenant
governor than to name the governor
and weak majority of the house and
senate.
Therefore, in this off year in Mime
sofa politics, while men and measures
are being quietly and calmly dis
cussed, let us hope that more thought
and consideration will be devoted to
the position of lieutenant governor,
than has been in the past, to the end
that a good, honest, clean and able
may be chosen for this important
office.-Inter-Lake browns Valley
Tribune.
The two most important officers
OF the state, as far as legislation is
concerned are the Lieutenant
Governor and the speaker of the
House. They appoint all the
commuters, and the Commuters shape
legislation. A prominent corporation
attorney once remarked to us. "Let
us name the Lieutenant Governor and
the Speaker of the House, and we
don't care who. name the other
officers.'
A. G.. Bernard of Cass Lake, pres
ident of the State drainage league,
says: "There are II ,OO0, 200 acres OF
swamp land in northern Minnesota
which if drained would be valuable
agricultural land. There is no rea-
son why the government should spend
millions on irrigation of lands in the
west for the benefit of certain locali-
ties and individuals and neglect to
drain the water off our swamp lands.
We are going to make a strong case
before congress this winter, according
to the plan suggested by Senator
Clapp at the CroOkston convention,
and we want to maintain a permanent
lobby at Washington to further the
interests Of drainage. We will insist
on the recognition of our claims
along with those of irrigation and it
appropriations for drainage are de-
MED we will see that no money is
spent on irrigation. The league in
tends to organize each county and
congressional district 80 as to furnish