The Princeton union., 1909-03-25
MORE NOT NEEDED
"Mike" Protests Vigorously Against
an Increase in the Army of
State Office Holders.
Hon. j. F. JaCobsOn'S Friends Are
Already Talking of Him as the
Next State Auditor.
Special St. Paul Correspondence.

Special St. Paul Correspondence.
st. Paul, Mar. 24.-Tomorrow after
noon the several bills providing for a
public lands department will be
special order in the senate. AS the
Union has repeatedly pointed out
there is not the slightest necessity for
creating a new bunch of offceholders,
either elective or appointive. Neither
Governor johnson or State Auditor
Iverson has advanced any good rea-
son why such a department should be
created. There seems to be mania
for the creating of more officeholders.
There is not department of the state
government that has not from twenty
to one hundred per cent more money
at its disposal today than six or eight
years ago. There has been no in
crease in the states wealth or popula-
ton to warrant such an enormous in
crease in the expense of conducting
the state government, and yet there is
a constant demand for more Offices and
more expense. Is it any wonder that
despite the immense increase in the in
direct taxes paid into the state trea-
sury the rate of direct taxation
has constantly increased until it has
almost doubled in the past seven
years?- there was an in6nitesimal re-
duction last year over the preceding
year.
The legislature will be remiss in it's
duty if, under any specious plea, a
single new Office is created or single
salary increased. I reiterate, there
is not the slightest necessity for pub
lie land department., and I venture
the assertion that if J. F. jacobson
should be elected state auditor in 1910
he will have no trouble in caring for
the states Lands without asking for
any additional assistance. No refec-
tion upon the present state auditor is
intended, for be is a most worthy and
competent official, but cannot agree
with the arguments he advances in.
favor of the creation of land bureau
separate from the state auditors
office.
:. !. !.
Another bill that should be knocked,
and knocked hard, is Sam Fullerton s
pet measure creating a state forest,
fish and game commission. There is
no merit to this bill whatever. More
high priced officials, that's all. The
state game and fish bureau costs too
much by half as it is. Think of it,
over S65,00O per year! Republicans,
democrats and rohibitionists should
all swipe this bill. There is no good
in it. <E'
It is noised around the legislative
halls that j.. F. Jacobson's friends
will insist on nominating and electing
him state auditor in 1910 Jake would
shine in that Office, and it is really
fully as important position as that
of governor. State Auditor jacobson
would sound all right.
+ j.
1t is straight legislative session of
ninety days. The steering committees
of both houses have so decided and.
unless the unexpected happens, the
finish of the Thirty-sixth legislature
will not come until April %. This will
mean April 81 as the last day for
passing bills and March % the last
day for the Introduction of the same
without the permission of Gov. John
son. In the past a full ninety day ses-
sion, which is the constitutional limit,
was looked upon as one of the many
petty ways of getting hold of the per
diem which the law allows each men,
Der Of the two bodies, but with the
change of the law giving a straight
salary of $1,000 it was thought short
sessions would be the rule. This is
the first year the legislature has been
on a straight salary, and why the
short session rule does not prevail
surprises many.
& = T.
With the bill hoppers glutted, and
general orders in both houses carrying
burden of measures not yet consid-
cred, why the full ninety days will be
required can be readily seen. Still all
this could be avoided. The other day
asked member why, as one of the
leaders, he did not interfere; why with
his salary a straight one and his ex-
penses pi1ing up he did not try and
show his colleagues the absurdity Of
the whole thing? His answer was not
S what I expected, but it was convincing.
my friend," said this particular
member, 81 am the member from''-
naming one of the up counties, II