The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-10-17
this announcement I wish to make
the following statement:

nave Deeu Ill inc SeTNlcc Oh the
/ public continuously since | was TWEEN
| ty-one years old: in 1881 postmaster
of Rushford, Mimi, my native city;
member of the 1887 Legislature, state
auditors accountant deputy STATE
treasurer, deputy state auditor. and
, state auditor since January, 1908.
ECONOMY and law enforcement.
are, in my opinion, among the para
mount issues demanded by the PEG
pie of Minnesota at this time. We
need to call hall Iii all public ex-
penditures. give due consideration
to the institutions we now have and
apply common sense business prin-
oiples to their management. We
need to become acquainted with the
laws now on our statute books and
see that they are rigidly enforced.
In recent years we have established
many new governmental functions,
with new buildings, new boards and
commissions. They are all for meri-
torious purposes and demanded by
the people, but many of them were
created without any thought of har-
monizing with other departments per
forming q similar service A multi
pheity of such bureaus tends to
! both inefficiency and waste. There
should be thorough reorganization
and coordination of all departments
with the certain result of greater
afficianoN- and yaco,o,p,- S;non tbo
state was formed we had expended
up to July 81, 1912, for new build.
ings alone, the sum of S22,454, 024 sc.
OF that sum $12,521,333 81, or fifty
five per cent, was expended during
the last ten years.
In the fiscal year of 1900 the state
expenditures paid from the revenue
fund We're S2,924, 1859, or per capita
cost OF 81. 81 on 1,751,0 the popula-
ton in that year In the year 1910
the expenditures We're $6,86S,8S6. 81,
or Q per capita cost of So 81 on
2,e75,000, the population of that year.
From 1900 to 1910 the states popu-
lation increased 1919 per cent while
the expenditures increased 124 per
cent Our people do not want parsi-
mony, but it is time to pause in the
erection Of new buildings, and pro-
vide only for the actual needs of the
unfortunate wards of the state, and
reduce department expenses wher-
ever it is possible. {
1--WE need fewer boards and COM
missions, not more. ID"
Intelligent economy means: Cut
out every needless public expense;
reduce taxation; protect public
health; develop water resources and
promote manufacturing and ship
ping" conserve and restore natural
resources; to build up agriculture
and farm life; to defend wage work
ers and salaried men, women and
children, from the greed and avarice
of soulless employers; to aid , in re-
claiming and settling unoccupied
lands; to foster such transportation
laws as will give every community,
large or small, an equal chance for
existence, and in general to incul-
cate the doctrine of the golden rule
among our citizens in all vocations.
Minnesota has an enlightened citi-
zenship. We have enacted many pro-
gressiye laws, designed for the vel
fare and protection of our people.
But these laws are not self-enforc-
ing. The people select servants or
Dff nj m
force the laws. Neglect of duty by
a public officer, under our laws,
comes under the head of Grimes
against the Sovereignty of the State
tSection 1896, Revised Laws, 1905)
The governor is charged in the con-
stitution (Secticn 4, Article 81 with
the enforcement of the laws in the
following wirds: He shall take care
that the laws be faithfully executed
"a vigorous exercise of such laws
by the proper officers will prove
very wholesome. Public officers who
wilfully neglect or refuse to enforce
the laws within their jurisdictions
should be promptly suspended and,
Wanton disregard for law, whether
OF village, city, state or nation, is
an attack upon the very foundation
of self-government. Law enforce
ment is of supreme Importance at
! this time The liquor traffic should
be compelled to observe every law
| for its regulation. This can be done
in every village or city in the state,
if proper means are employed. Laws
to prohibit trusts and combinations
in restraint of rade should be rig,
idly enforced. 20 permit trusts and
monopolics, large or small, TO plum
der the people unfortunately
brings despair and distrust of gov
ernmental power to protect its citi
zens. Laws to protect the morals
of community should and can be
enforced -
Several departments are now un
! der civil service laws, which should
be extended to include every state
department
"There should be team work
among the heads of the several divi
sions of the state government. They
could sit as board of directors t
consider ways and means for improv
ing business methods and promoting
the general good of the entire state
'The invisible government should
be dragged from it's place of hiding