The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1909-01-28
IN UNNECESSARY BUREAU.

al.
4 Johnson's voluminous message to the
legislature is devoted to q spacious
plea for the establishment of costly
bureau to care for the states land,
} mineral and timber. State Auditor
I Iverson paved the way for the Cover.
nor's elaborate argument by making
a recommend along similar lines.
/ Mr.. Iverson processes to believe that
there should be but one head to the
4 proposed new land department. and
that he should be elected by the
i people. If his recommendations were
made in good faith he ought to have a
bill prepared and introduced in the
Legislature giving effect to his views,
otherwise his motives may be miscon.
strued.
The governors views have been EN-.
bodied in bill introduced by Senator
i Works. We have not been able to Sc
cure a copy of the Works bill, but we
understand it provides for bureau
or commission of three members to be
appointed for term of six years after
the first term, at a salary of $4,000
each per annum. The bill carries an
appropriation of $4,000 which is
pretty steep for starter. If the bill
becomes law, two years hence an
additional $4,000 will be demanded
of the legislature. The Works measure
should be entitled, "A Bill for An
Act to Appropriate $4,000 for the
Furtherance of the Cause of the Demo-
cratic Party in the State of Mime
sota." For, with all due Difference to
Gov. Johnson and State Auditor
Iverson, that is practically what it
amounts to.
| Years ago, when the state auditors
office was swamped with work, there
would have been a valid reason for
the establishment of a land department
separate from the auditors Office, and
a bill with that purpose in view was in
produced at tie session of 1898, but it
met with little favor. Since 1893 close
onto 1000, 900 acres of land and timber
probably to the value of $4,000, 900
has been disposed of by the state and
there is that much less land and timber
to care for. In 1895 every state land
grant to railroads was untitled and
unsettled, and an endless amount of
work, worry and vexation of spirit
were connected Herewith. In January,
1903, every land grant had been adjust
ed and filed, save the Duluth & iron
Range. Before the establishment of
the state board of control the ex-
pense lists of every correctional, char
liable and educational institution had
to be carefully scrutinized and audited,
which entailed an enormous amount
of work on the auditors office: now
the board of control attends to all the
details and the auditor simply draws
his warrant for the total amount of
each expense list. The tax commits
sion has relieved the state auditor of
an immense burden. The trust COM
panies securities are no longer in the
keeping of the state auditor, and
formerly those securities demanded a
good share Of one clerks time
While the sum total in dollars and
cents may show a big increase in the
amount of receipts and disbursements
by the state, we unhesitatingly assert
that, in the past six or seven years the
state auditors Office has been relieved
of more than so per cent of laborious
and nerve-wrecking work.
| Moreover the timber board must now
divide responsibility with the auditor
for the disposition of trespasses on
state land, and that of itself is no
small item. The present auditor has
twice the amount at his disposal to
care for his Office, including the land
department, that his predecessor had,
besides the timber board has an an
nual appropriation of $4,000.
| Gov. johnson, or whoever wrote his
message, is guilty of gross exaggera.
ton to say the least. He says