The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-10-05

state transactions. IN doing 50 !
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
and their earnest cooperation in
everything that pertains to the wei
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 49, 49,. .: Ill.,.
The total collections made by the
attorney generals Office from 1905 to
July 1, 1910, inclusive, amount to a
grand total of $2,330,735.29.
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 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 the state has received near.
ly $4,000 more in filing fees than dur
ing the two years preceding. Another
enactment for which this department
should be given credit is that permit
ting proposed amendments to the con-
stitution to be published in at least
three newspapers in each county,
thereby giving every voter a better
opportunity to 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 dollars 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 the 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. 1, 1910, was only $55,27212,
whereas the average expenditure for
the four years just preceding was $685..
O89.58. Thus it is shown that while
the printing has increased largely as
to amount, the average cost has been
greatly reduced. .,-.-.@-.:...,, -. !. -.
!. Z, State Auditor. ::.t ::s:;~.
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 1verson and the attorney general, a
large amount of swamp lands have
been recovered by the state and while
the value of the timber upon these
lands exceeds million dollars, it is
believed that they also contain val
liable amount of iron ore. In secur-
ing these swamp land grants the state
portant contests before the interior de-
partment.
Minnesota was the pioneer state in
conserving her natural resources, and
is now reaping it's reward. The
auditor is the custodian of the per.
manent school fund, which now ag-
gregates $26,977, 225.14, and it, is es-
timated that this fund will be in.
creased from the royalties on iron