The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-01-08
mary and economical procedure along
lines have outlined.
Proper Regulation Necessary.

JudFI anu eCOuOIIlCdI PROCEDURE dIoHS
lines have outlined.
Proper Regulation Necessary.
The necessity for the proper regu-
lation and control by the state of COM
,, mon carriers becomes every day more
apparent. This control should be
firm, but reasonable. Nor have ! any
sympathy with the claim made by the
carriers themselves that both federal
and state control are incompatible.
The checks and balances found in the
federal and in each state constitution
were embodied in those instruments
with the high purpose of maintaining
the American system of government
aud mere inconvenience, either upon
the part of public officers or upon the
part of those in charge of public serv-
ice corporations, should not be accept
ed as sufficient reason for disregard
ing great constitutional principles.
The dignity and character of the du-
ties devolving upon the officers of
state are as great as those devolvlng
| upon any officer and are generally
public duty and Wits as much intell-
gence as are to be found in any gov
| ernmental department.
We as officers of the state of Min
nesota have no quarrel with the great
corporations engaged in the public
| service: we have no reprisals to make
upon them. 1t would be crime to
impair their usefulness or efficiency,
but it is none the less our duty to
limit and control the exercise of the
vast powers which they possess to the
end that the individual citizen will
receive fair and just consideration and
this duty am sure You will perform
calmly and efficiently.
Education.
The last two years have been
| marked by a continuation of actual
progress in the schools of the state.
There has been slight frightening
of the school terms. Teachers wages
are higher The proportional number
of graduates from high schools, nor
NAL schools and colleges has in
creased. Mere schools than ever be-
fore have qualified for and received
special state aid in their respective
classes; and schools in general are
better provided than ever with Ii
braries and equipment generally
Communications from many of the
most experienced school superintend-
ents indicate that the compulsory at
tendance law now upon the statute
books is practically dead letter, due
very largely to the fact that school
officers do not desire to risk neighbor-
hood troubles by appointing truant
officers | would renew my previous
recommendation that legislative pro-
vision be made for nonresident Off
Ger TO enforce our educational laws
in the country districts.
I would also renew the recommen-
dation l made to a previous legisla-
ture looking toward the establishment
of county board of education. whose
duties would include the appointment
of county superintendent.
In discussing the subject further
Governor Johnson recommends law
prescribing educational qualifications
for county superintendent and min
imum salary law for teachers, adapt
ing to the needs of Minnesota the best
in the minimum salary laws of Mas
sachusetts, Indiana and other states.
Logs and Lumber
The past year was eventful because
of the unusual commercial and finan-
cial conditions which have obtained.
The stringency of the money market
and the attendant business depression
so affected the lumber industry that
the state timber board deemed it wise
to have no stumpage sale during the
past year. The law provides arbi-
trariy that there shall be but one gen
eral stumpage sale each year except
in case of an emergency and, as the
conditions did not justify this, no sale
was held The timber board has had
less difficulty than formerly in the
adjustment of settlements for either
voluntary or involuntary trespass. Be
cause of the memorable rule of the
board, which made no settlements eX-
cept in strict accordance with the law,
timber operators have found it cheap
er to buy the timber in the regular
way and pay for it accordingly. There
have been some trespass cases, but
they are gradually growing less, a
condition much to be desired.
The present timber law relating to
cash sales, which provides that the
auditor may sell the stumpage of any
tract of pine land not exceeding one
section in area, when the stumpage
does not exceed 100000 feet, at pub
lie auction to the highest bidder for
cash. should be repealed entirely. The
law works serious difficulty to inno-
cent purchasers and almost invariably
works loss to the state. The pur-
chaser buys the tract in good faith,
believes he owns it and proceeds to
cut it. Frequently he cuts more than
100000 feet and when found by meas
ure that it exceeds this amount he
becomes a trespasser under the law
and penalized accordingly.
Insurance.
At the last session of the legisla-
ture our insurance laws were modi-
fed and readjusted to such an extent
that we have now, in my Judgment,
one of the best Insurance codes of any
y J.