Morris tribune., 1910-10-07

expense in making local improve
ments, for it is altogether unjust to
ask a settler to endure. all the priva-
tions of pioneer life and in addition
thereto pay the expenses Of improving
adjacent public property.
Administrative Record.
The state administrative officers
constitute one great business institu-
ton. In coming before the people as
a candidate for governor it is proper
that an account should be rendered
covering my stewardship already rem
dered. Charges have been made by
my opponents and the Kitchen Cabi-
net" to the effect that SO called bust
ness interests have been permitted to
fitch the heritage from the people, to
threaten the integrity of our own
courts and debauch our legislatures"
That this wholesale accusation is in
tended for purely political effect no
one can seriously doubt, but in order
to show cOnclusively that the inter
ests Of the state have been carefully
and efficiently guarded, l shall give
brief summary of the most important
state transactions. In doing so |
desire to give all due credit to the re-
spective state officers not only for
their efficiency and ability, but also
for the kind consideration given me
in
everything that pertains to the well
fare of the state.
Record of Attorney General.
Among the brilliant achievements
of Republican administration during
the past few years is the record
made by the attorney generals office.
In the so called railroad rate cases
and cases in state courts against the
Western Union Telegraph company
and the railroad company for taxes,
former Attorney General Young and
Senator E. S. Durment have been en-
ployed as special counsel but in the
numerous important timber and tax
cases that have been carried to the
United States supreme court Attorney
General Simpson and his assistants
have conducted the litigation and
made the arguments. This is said
to be the first instance in which a
state has appeared in the United
States supreme court without the aid
of outside counsel.
The total collections made by the
attorney generals office from 1905 to
July l, 1910, inclusive, amount to a
grand total of $3.50, 1853.
But what was more important than
the amounts collected, was the sus
tanning Of the timber acts of the state
and the power of the state to pass
laws of a most stringent character
dealing with timber trespassing.
Secretary of State.
In the Office of the secretary of
state many important reforms have
been instituted by the present in
cumbent, julius A. Schmahl. In the
payment of filing fees the laws have
been strictly enforced, and the record
Of the two years ending July 81, 1910,
shows that t.G state has received near
ly $25,0G2 L re in fling fees than Gur-
ing the two ears pTecedin:.. Another
enactment tor which this department
should be e:Een credit is that permit
ting proposed amendments 70 the con
stitutiOn to be published in at least
three newspapers in e"t'h county,
thereby giving every vCtG~ a better
opportunity 10 become familiar with
the provisions of the proposed amend
ments Another measure enacted by
the Legislature is the one directing the
secretary Of state to secure an annual
license for every dining and buffet car
where liquor is sold while the car is
in the state Through this legislation
the secretary has collected several
thousand iOllars annually. The en-
fOrcement of the ticket agent license
law has been diligently made, and
today the state is realizing large sums
from this source.
The secretary of state, together
with the auditor and treasurer. con-
stitute lie state printing commission,
in charge Of state printing. The aver
age yearly expenditure for such work
during the last eighteen years has
been $57,924.61, but the average ex-
penditure for the four years ending
Aug. l, 1910, was only $55.272.12,
whereas the average expenditure for
the four years just preceding was $50
OS958 Thus it is shown that while
the printing has increased largely as
to amount. the average cost has been
greatly reduced
State Auditor
Undoubtedly one of the most i'm
portant Offices in the state is that of
auditor and the record of that Office
during the past few years is not sur
passed in the history of the state
Through the persistent efforts of Audi
tor IveTson and the attorney general, a
large amount of swamp lands have
been recovered by the state and while