Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1911-04-20
RALPH CLEARED
BY REPORT

HOUSE INVESTIGATION COMMIT
TEE ADVISES HIS RETEN-
TloN BY STATE
The special house committee which
has been Investigating George A.
Ralph, state drainage engineer, made
its report to the house late yesterday
Mr.. Ralph is criticised for poor bar
gaining in one instance, but is exoner-
ated Of all actual wrongdoing, and it
is recommended that he be retained.
The committee did not consider the
charges preferred against Mr.. Ralph
by William O'Hearn in 1903, on the
ground that they were stale and that
Mr.. Ralph has been exonerated from
them. The report in part reads as
follows:
The engineer made bad bargain
on ditch No. S6, and as to that matter
he is not free from criticism for using
poor judgment, but he was not guilty
OF bad faith or actual wrong-doing.
The engineer has not been guilty
of faVoritism or Of collusion with
contractors.
The so-called Wawina Land COM
panys deal was not prohibited by
law. It was not an act of wrong-do-
ing, but it did show lack of appre-
citation of official ethics by the engi-
neer.
"The engineer is a competent, faith
full and industrious public sesrvant, so
far as relates to the performance of
the technical and practical work of
the commission. He has not the ex-
ecutive and administrative ability, nor
do his other duties permit him the
time to manage the detail of the exc
cutive and administrative branch of
the business of the commission as
closely as the Importance of the sub
ject requires.
"AsEengineer of so important a de-
partment, he should not be hampered
with. nor should his technical ability
be impaired by mere matters of ex-
ecutives and administrative detail. He
has served in his capacity as such
engineer for period of ten years.
From 1901 to 1907 he only gave por,
tion of his time to the department, the
balance of his time being given prin-
cipally to counties in connection with
work on judicial bitches. The act,al
work of his department so far as con-
'struction work is concerned is from
the period of time in each year begin
ming when the frost is first out of the
ground in the spring until freezeup in
the fall. This necessitates the en-
>ployment of inspectors and field men
for comparative short period of
time"
Work Done in Hurry
"The engineer is confronted with ur-
gent demands from many localities
for immediate relief, and in some in.
stances has attempted to furnish such
relief and comply with such demand
without a proper regard to doing the
very best work in his department For
so doing he is excused on the ground
of expediency and an earnest desire
with the means at his command. The
administration of his department up
to Sept. 1, 1910, had not been as care
full with reference to inspection ,of
bitches, reports of inspectors, and the
making and payment of estimates as
the very best business practices would
suggest, but while it has in some re-
spects been loose, the engineer has at
all times shown a disposition to adopt
suggestions and to make improve
ments, and it must be said that at the
present time his Office is we'll system
atized and his records in excellent
condition, and that at no time can he
be said to have been inefficient with
reference to these matters.
tThe drainage commission is not
properly organized The subject of
drainage and the incidental questions
that they should not be left to the
Judgment of one man.
Investigation Recommended.
Careful study and consideration
should be given in comprehensive
way so as to involve the whole state
with reference to the effect which the