The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-04

schools lack the advantage Of we'll con-
structed buildings, adequate books and
library, trained and experienced teach
ers, and in addition thereto, are sub !,
ject to the disadvantage Of living re-
mote from the schoolhouse. The primary
education of the youth is the real basis
Of our citizenship, and every opportun-
ity for the encouragement Of the early
training Of our. youth should be en-
ployed The inducement for more gen
eral attendance should be held out by
every possible assistance of the state. I
suggest that there is much occasion for
Improvement in our rural schoolhouses
with regard to heating, lighting and
vent ilation, with a view to the greater
result would Id re comm the SsI adoption
Of some general plan whereby all rural
schoolhouses should be constructed in
the future upon plans submitted to and
approved by competent authority.
l believe the special state aid provid-
to raise the standard and increase the
efficiency of rural schools, and I trust
this liberal policy will be continued.
Adequate 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 nee
essary whereby our county superinten-
dents will not only be paid adequately
for their services, but which will also in
sure more competent supervision. Their
salaries should be at least commensur-
ate with those of other county officers,
and with those of school supervisors in
cities who do like amount of work, and
in return for proper compensation,
there should be some requirement which
would guarantee professional service in
the supervision OF our rural schools. Be-
lieving that the educational system Of
our state. should be divorced from ,parti-
nO11tios far JonSaih1o 9n6 that
superintendent should be chosen be-
cause of their educational publications
} instead of their partisan politics, l
would urge and recommend such changes
in our laws as would provide county
, board of education whose duty would in
perintendent and such other school du-
ties only as are now performed by the
[ board Of county commissioners.
3 During the last ten years the duties
$ imposed upon the department. of public
. time has increased with but a single
D clerk, and the funds at the disposal OF
| the department. have been only CORE
l spondingly increased. In view Of the in
Q creased duties Of this department touch
: ing every branch Of our public schools
e mend that the legislature make provis
ion for another assistant, and that the
permanent, fund Of the working force Of
the office be made $4,000 annually.
$ TIMBER TREsPAss AND MINERAL
y LEASES.
The public examiner of Minnesota
,, states in his official report that hun
q q dreds of thousands of dollars are due tn,
= state by reason Of timber trespass, ant
= urges suits for the collection of tn,
!, amounts due. He states further tina
- suits have been instituted for the re
:, covery of back taxes due the state from
e g railway companies. The work of prose
g cutting these cases has been delayed h
= lreports, by the inability Of the attorne,
2 general to reach them because of mu]
e titude of other duties.
= There should be no cessation in tn
= prosecution of these claims, and I woul
~ suggest to you the ACCESSIBILITY Of max
,, ing provision with sufficient appropria
= tion, for the employment Of special coun
T. !, sci to take up the work Of collecting tn
81 ., The auditor in his report makes refer
y ence also to timber trespass, bearing on
" the statement of the public examiner
70 = From these two offices the claim ha
- been made that the law has been openl
1t violated, and it appears that the state
~ ment of the public examiner, "That
* was cheaper to steal the timber and sci
u tie for it than it was to buy it, ~ is
W some measure true. It is alleged ais
IL H. that thousands Of dollars worth Of tin
<, Der has been stolen from the state, c
W. which no report has been made. It woul
70 be wise to appropriate sufficient fun6
y to ena BILE the executive to make con
~ = plete investigation of our timber col
'S ditions with view Of bringing offen'
J.; ers to Justice, and securing to the scho
IL funds of the state the amounts proper]
d belonging thereto.
p The public examiner further states :
So result of investigation, that miner
, leases have been issued contrary to lay
eu and to persons not legally entitled
"a. hold them: assure you that proper stel
s, precaution against future violations
the law that this class of property me
yield to the state the greatest possib
Of revenue, J. recommend the passage of
m bill to provide. for the sale Of miner
tn leases at public auction to the highe
Mt bidder, and that every such sale shou
IT. be after due and proper advertisement
ty and after a meteorological examinatit
"a Of the land by the state before such sal
he WITHIN few years vast mineral be-
he to believe that still greater discover
ng are to follow. The interests Of the sta
"a must be, safeguarded in every possib
in way, and =! again call your attention.
in this most important question.
~. RAILWAY LEGISLATION.
lty One Of the great problems Of the pre-
All emit time and which is of the create
'ar and most vital concern to the peor
he represented by you, is that Of railw
lid transportation and tariff rates for
ro- same. There is no need to rehearse t
w. history Of recent litigation affecti,
ire combinations Of parallel and competi
I railway lines. The United States S
ka- preme court in decision rendered
ak, it has decreed against the merger
on such parall lei and competing lines Of ra
be way. And yet we realize and know tn
combinations are in effect which CO.
a pletely annihilate competition. Railw
at rates in our state are much higher TIL
lde across our border in Canada. TIL
es, there is an unjust discrimination there
ion no question.
he
me You are the representatives of t
~ q people. To you they look for relief.
T. many the Iowa distance tariff law is
-! - lieved to be solution of this questi
e,va for our own state. Railway rates 9
3 =, - lower in Iowa than in this, state by FRI
ing Is to 40 per cent. Something is radio
ly wrong with a system which plat
the Minnesota shipper at such a diss
vantage.
oud That the Iowa distance tariff Ii
,ily would be Of benefit to our state, is
UGH grave doubt. The railway situation
ers. Iowa differs materially from our oy
UNI Iowa is state compact in physi
md form havinC within hor hnrdore