The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-01-12
WORK OF THE S0L0NS
t'Ralph'' Writes Pithy Legislative
Letter in Which He Reviews
r1atters of Importance.
Governors Message Dissected-Pre-
siding Officers Given Credit for
Efforts to Expedite Work.


siding Officers Given Credit for
Efforts to Expedite Work.
st. Paul, Jan. Ill wish to say
arst, by way of preface, that T have
undertaken, at the request of r. G.
Dunn, to furnish the Union during
the session a letter in which the pro-
ceedings of the legislature shall be
reviewed. My instructions are in
brief, to supply the readers of the
Uni o with as fair and full an alb
stract Of the doings of our lawmakers
as the space at my disposal will per-
NIT without prejudice to any interest,
party or faction. Mr.. Dunn tells me
he: will not attempt to dictate to me
she views I shall express herein, nor
even, as in the case of the present
communication, ask to see ny letter
before 1*ma1f it to the Office: Under
these circumstances it would be mani
testify Unfair to hold him responsible
for either the statements I may make
OR the opinions I may express. On
my part I shall make this pledge to
the readers of the U lion, that these
letters shall be written in good faith
with a view to furnishing them with
reliable information concerning the
doings of their representatives at
the state capitol. If l 60 wrong I
hope it will be attributed rather TO my
failure to fully inform myself, or to
my poor Judgment, than to any wan
ton attempt to deceive those who have
grown accustomed to look to the
o o n for reliable news.
Two things are a constant source of
surprise to those who have been famil-
lar with the opening proceedings of
Minnesota state legislatures in recent
years. One is the interest which is
almost universally taken in what the
governor will have to say in his
inaugural message to the legislature,
and the other the promptness with
which the public proceeds to forget
and the legislature to ignore his
recommendations. There is no ex-
ception to this rule this year. At all
events the bills 50 far introduced and
the matters which are the subject of
general discussion among the men,
bers of the legislature are not gener-
ally those on which the governor laid
much stress. The greater part of the
message was given up to the discus
sion of an elaborate plan for the re-
organization of the executive depart
ments of the state government. There
is no indication thus far that in this
matter the governors recommends
lions have been taken seriously or
shat any attempt will be made to pro-
vide for the numerous bureaus and
departments be seems to consider
necessary to insure the orderly con-
duct of public business.
Nevertheless, it must not be sup
posed that the governors message
was without merit Indeed, many OF
MS recommendations deserve great
consideration, but because their sub
ject matter has long been under con-
sideration and the people have be-
come awake to the need of legislation
in regard to them, rather than because
the governor has called attention to
such matters as reapportio
good roads and consolidated schools,
these reforms are likely to receive
early and earnest consideration.
Nevertheless, if one is to judge from
the bills so far introduced, other
matters than those which the governor
has in his message made most promi-
nent the members Of both house and
senate have first in mind. For in.
stance, within the first few days of the
session at least -four bills had been
introduced providing that constitu-
tional amendment be submitted look.
ing to the adoption of the initiative
and referendum and the recall, and
other bills most In evidence were
those providing for changes of the
primary law, the adoption of a state
wide primary, the election of the
United States senator by a popular
vote, the adoption of the Oregon plan
for the people to declare their pref.
erence for United States senator, and
radical and organic reforms of like
character designed to bring the people
In closer touch with the machinery o1
government.
6 6 6
Our executives are no doubt more
to blame themselves than anyone else
if their recommendations are not al
ence taken up and methodically con.