Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-01-07

| Diock Al the same time. Practically
they run on sight. The danger Is
beyond expression"
number that 1t is necessary to con
fine within the walls of the insti.
tuition
The enactment of parole law sev.
eral years. ago. whereby prisoners, at
the expiration of the minimum sen.
tence imposed, were eligible for pa.
role, has worked very satisfactorily
and by its operation the number OF
prisoners in the penal institutions is
kept down to the minimum, thus saw
ing the state great expense.
But great deal more could be ac-
complished by the enactment of a law
providing for the appointment OF a
| parole officer whose duty 1t should be
10 keep track of the paroled prison
ers. help them secure employment
and assist them in every way possible
TO keep the provisions of their parole.
The insurance department has CIV
| cn the matter OF insurance careful
| study and investigation. | am sure
that whatever suggestions 1t may
make to the Legislature will be given
| great weight.
| am of the opinion that the de-
partment of insurance should be
placed under the direct control of the
| governor. and that the insurance
commissioner should be appointed
by that officer with the consent OF the
| senate. Under the present law the
auditor of state is ex-ofiicio superin-
tendent of insurance and he appoints
the deputy. who is charged with the
enforcement OF the law.
The laws of Colorado provide that
| the governor shall be a member Of
innumerabls boards. It seems that
whenever a new board Is created the
| governor is one Of the members, II
not an active. at least an ex-officio
member. To properly attend to this
work requires. In many instances.
| days and days of time which could be
| profitably empolyed in other direc-
| tions.
The governor is a member OF one
| board, however the duties OF which
| could. in my opinion. be placed upon
| the secretary of state, and that Is the
auditing board. The purchase OF all
supplies comes through that depart
ment. and it is usually necessary for
him to attend the meetings Of the
hoard So that the legislature could,
| with entire propriety, and without
detriment to the public good, place
| the secretary Of state on that board,
thus relieving the governor a
small portion OF the board work.
The land board is one of the most
important boards OF the statee. II
| requires constant care and attention
and the duties are becoming more and
| more arduous and exacting, and even
then ii Is possible for abuses to creep
in which could not II the board was
able to devote its whole time and at
tention TO the work.
The members of the land board
cannot, even by extreme industry
become familiar with all the lands oi
the state, their location and value
This endowment OF the state is con
stantly increasing In value, and. be
iieye the time Is ripe when provision
should be made for a separate board
10 manage the affairs of this depart
ment.
Tine board should be an electiv,
one, with a term OF Office OF eithel
four or six years. the longer term be
ing preferable. This will require
constitutional amendment, and 1
would be at least four years befor,
such board could become operative
but | hope this legislature will taxi
the preliminary steps toward tn,
change in the management OF tn
land board
However, this should be rememb bel
cd, that the state superintendent O
public instruction should always b
member of the state board Of Ian
commissioners, on account OF tn
fact that this inheritance is for tn
benefit of the public schools Of IN
state.
II Is to be hoped that the presen
legislature will provide for the pa!
Rent Of the indebtsdasss issuol u