New Ulm review., 1913-04-16
Wilson Making
MINI. Converts
If President Keeps Up His
Pace Hammond WillHave
Better Company.
Investigations at Capital Con
tinue to Embarass Eber-
hart Cohorts.

4 . . ~
There will be some lively ex-
planning this week relative to the
purchase of the Virginia bonds
which the house committee on pub.
lie expenditures has been investi-
eating quietly for the last few days.
The Investigations characterizing
this session of the legislature have
not been at all comfortable for the
Eberhart-Smith machine. but the
bond investigation probably is aim
ed to end the political careers Of
r. c. Dunn and Samuel G. Iverson,
both of whom are potential candi-
dates for governor. It looks as
though Mr.. Iverson was the one
feared the most.
The lead upon which the commit
tee has beenaat work is supposed
difference between the purchase
price of the bonds and their market
value at the time of purchase by
the state when r. G. Dunn was
auditor. The committee claims to
be in possession Of facts which
shows difference of $4,000 be-
tween the market and the purchase
price. Whether the state was Inn.
posed upon or whether it was poor
business judgment has not been dis
closed, but the committee promises
to have some startling facts to dis
close ere long.
The state now holds $2,145,000 in
Virginia bonds most of which rep
resents purchases during Mr. Dunns
term of Office. A dispatch from
Virginia relates that Mr.. Dunn and
THE late August T. Koerner made
"Trip to Richmond with a trunk full
of the bonds for the purpose Of
having them exchanged for regis.
tered bonds in place Of the coupon
bonds which the state then held. q
Dunn scouts the report, and Mr..
1verson refuses to say word. The,
Investigation to follow the commit
tees report will doubtless afford
sensational finish to the session.
There was weeping and wailing in
the precincts OF the public utility
corporations when the Knapp pub
lie utility bill was defeated last
week. While there are arguments
both for and against a public utility
bill, the Rines' organization evident.
ly got cold feet at the last moment
and lined up against the bill for
fear that tthe measure was loaded
Men straddling political fences are
prone to move slowly. 1t is not
likely that any public utility bill
will be passed at this session
The public service corporations, Ed
ward =. Smiths pet, will have to
pervision for two more years.
Now that the board of control
is republican there is not the haste
to give out the reports OF the board
OF visitors. The reporters used to
feast on the sensational reports of
the board of visitors often before
the governor saw them when F.
NJ. Ringdal was chairman of the
board and the democrats held the
whiD handle on that board.
The reports of this body used to
be privileged copy" 1t is different
now, oh so different. The reports
are carefully censored.
1t is likely that the board Of
visitors will be abolished. Under
the present law. the governor has
the power to investigate any IN
stitution. and he has the states
purse behind him too. Why the
state should employ three men to
it's institutions and then
hire three men to see that they
ire on the job is a puzzle and not
sound business policy, to say the
east.
It became known this week, and
IS fact that will likely be aired
lpon the stump in the next cam
)aign. that the Standard Oil CON-
1any is blocking the move to place
iii inspection under the Dairy and
Food department. The Standard Oil
it is urged. wants the
lind of inspection it is getting for
ills graded by the state as leniently
Is they are now and chiefly by
POLITICAL henchmen of the Eberhart-
Smith administration. 1t is obvious
O anyone that company with in
erior oil would like nothing better
han a "squinting" inspection to put
IS oil on a grade warranted by
he state into the bargain.
1t is a peculiar thing but the
Ill companies did not fight the bill
,ver in the house.: The. bill abolish
ng the present inspection went over
uietly 20 the senate and was kill
d in Burnuuist's committee on gen.
raj legislation. The mystery grows
vhen one remembers that Governor
Iberhart in two messages anu
galore has advocated
he abolition of the oil inspection
department and the placing OF TINS
Inspection in the hands OF the state
larry and food commissioner. TINS
one of the administrations grand
tand plays, however. 1t is IN line
tContinued on back page)