The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-01-05
A MINNESOTA VIEW

A MINNESOTA VIEW
Minnesota has long been held up
to the public as a leader in reform
legislation. Many laws in other
states have been modelled on hers and
many of the peculiar fads by which
reformation is expected have come
from that state. But If Governor
Eoerhart correctly interprets public
opinion and public sentiment, the pen
duium has already begun to swing
to the other side.
He declared in his annual message
to the legislature that there were
too many boards and too many COM
missions in the state and there were
too many members seeking the same
objects. That is not only true, but It
is good sound sense. OF late years
the policy has been when some one
with SUFFICIENT power to develop a fad,
had no peg on which to hang 1t, a
commission was created. President
Roosevelt was a star performer along
this line and some Of his commits
sions-notably the one to improve
the countrylife was such a huge
Joke that even he ceased to advocate
commissions. Many states develop
ed the same fad and commissions on
almost every conceivable subject were
created Many of them died early
deaths and the long. drawn out re-
Iports eand ,investisattoas 7aauseated
the people. The, trouble Is these
commissions seldom have. much pow
or and their ideas. Observation-Disclosures
tical or unreasonable. The fewer of
them the better.
Another thing to which Governor
Eberhart called attention in a prac-
ttcal way ia that there has been in
efficient and unsystematic legisla-
ton enacted. That likewise is true
in other states:-aItleusi,t tef- be the
business of the legislature to deter
mine to some extent at least, the con-
stitutionality of proposed laws and
not leave this burden entirely to the
courts after business has been ad-
justed to the new order Of things.
But it is seldom done. The reports
of the appellate courts will show
many Of the cases involving the larg-
est interests are tried upon the con-
stituttonality Of some law. 1t would
be impossible to eliminate this. for
even courts are not inerrant and de-
termine such questions finally because
they were given that power. But It
would be easy to avoid much of the
dlsconnected Legislation. II not the I'M
constitutional. by more thorough in
vestigation of the effects of bills be-
fore they are voted into laws.
It 10 beginning to be recognized
that passing law does not always
accomplish that which is intended. A
law that men should not drink In
toxicating liquors would seem to be
. good one; yet IL It we're enacted,
men would 60 on drinking - before.
A law which seeks q reform will not
DO so unless It II 50 carefully pre-
pared that there are no angles. When
the primary election law was enacted
It was believed to be = safeguard for
party honesty Yet Hsn vote fos can
didates Of the opposition party in the
primaries to help their own candi-
dates in the regular election. So it is
with other laws. They become in
operative because they are impracti-
cal. they conflict with other laws be-
cause the existing laws have not been
examined; they are put to uses for
which they were not intended be-
cause they are not considered from
every viewpoint.
These are some Of. the reasons why
Minnesota has become overburdsned
with commissions and boards and con-
dieting laws.
Wood for Sale.
Furnace and box stove fuel. stump
wood for sale. Phone, farm, Tri-
fs a9 f ~! 1 o@ss rs t. S. F. J.