The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-01-21
HITS THEM HARD
From page l.

to the public on application to the
secretary of State. It would certain
lv be of interest, and 1 believe of pub
lie advantage to know, especially in
the case of metropolitan papers, who
| actually control the press of the
state. 1t will, however, probably be
some time before ST. Paul, Mime
apolis and Duluth papers take the
public into their confidence.
Suspicion has been aroused as to
whether H. F. No. 66, introduced by
Representative McGarry of Walker,
is in the public interest. Heretofore
d railroad could acquire a right. of
way 100 feet wide across state lands
on payment of damages. In case ad-
ditional land was needed an addition
al $50 feet in width could be acquired
with the governors consent. The
McGarry bill removes all regulation
as to width, the only restriction being
that the additional land acquired shall
be ''of convenient use" to the railway,
and the right to have any say in the
matter Is taken away from the gov
ernor. An additional proviso is added
that for station purposes the railroad
may acquire strip 5000 feet long
and 300 feet wide. Here, where the
limit is set, the acquisition of the land
is made subject to the approval of
the governor. Why not where there
is no limit? The matter will stand
looking into.
Senator eastman wants to retain
the state board of equalization which
goes out of existence early this year.
So does Burdett Thayer. The for
ner has introduced bill for the pur-
pose, and the latter talks about it
now and will act when the time
comes. Their argument is that in so
vital matter as the equalization of
taxation the people who foot the bills
should have voice. Otherwise they
contend that the power being Central
lied in three men whose official posi-
ton makes their residence at the
capitol imperative it is liable to abuse.
''It's all very WE'LL" they say, where
the commission is as strong as the
present one, to trust entirely to it,
but who is to say that under another
governor it may not degenerate into q
political machine or be subject to the
Influence of the rich and powerful cor
',orations which are SO vitality inter-
ested." l am given to understand
that the speaker is inclined to share
this view, and it has many advocates, |
both in the house and in the senate.
] don't think much of the bill in |
troduced by Senator Works ostensibly |
designed to carry out the recommen-
dation of the governor to divide the
duties now imposed upon the state
auditor and create a new department
or bureau 'for the protection, manage
ment and general executive admins
tration of its public lands, mines, for
ests, lakes and water powers The
governors conception was comprehen-
sive. 1t seems to have been his idea
to create department which would /
have something worth while to do.
Senator's Works scheme provides an
ample and more than
ample for such board, it is true, but |
he is lamentably lame in finding oc-
cupation for it. The board he would |
create would consist of three mem
bers, to have salary Of $4,000 each
Besides this an annual ap-
of $50,0O0 would be pro-
vjded to carry on the work This
beard would be designated as board
Of public lands, and the bill, besides
lesting in it the administration of the
public lands, intrusts it with the pow
ers of the state forestry board, with
to point a forestry COM
missioner and the powers vested in
the board of immigration and the
state timber board. That is all there
is to it. Not word about the super
vision of mines and mining lands, no
reference to lakes or water powers,
nothing about the drainage commits
sion or the highway commission to
which the governor referred in his
message in this connection. If this
Is an administration measure design
ed to carry out the goverpor's recon-
it is singularly lame and
impotent conclusion. Excepting al
ways the salary list.
So far as can be done In advance
Of any vote which indicates the pres.
emit standing of members of house
Speaker Rockne's assign
ments are gradually being tried out
and weighed. A majority of the tax