Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-01-08

committees in both branches than
usual and in the house at least q CON
siderable reduction in the number of
employees. The agitation with re-
gard to the organization has had the
fortunate effect Of bringing the pro-
gressive leaders in both branches in
to closer touch with each other, and
the prospects now are that they will
act together to put through definite
reform program instead of working
at cross purposes as is too often the
ease.
INCREASING PUBLIC BURDENS.
The governors message contains
nothing that has not been previously
outlined in the press. With the or
ganization Of new departments and
commissions it seems to contemplate !
large additions to the already unduly |
swollen salary list and increased ex-
pense Of administration for the tax
payers to bear. Economy does not
seem to have a place in the lexicon
Of. which the governor makes use.
One result of this is that although
the assessment of property has
greatly increased during his admin
istration and there have been large
additions to the revenues from the
inheritance tax and other sources,
the taxes the people have had to bear
are higher this year than at any
'previous period in the history Of the
state. The prospects are that, what
with the mill tax voted for roads and
the addition of one per cent in the
gross earnings tax, people will have
next year to dig still further down in
their pockets, for it is the experience
in this state, as it is everywhere else,
that the larger the revenues are; the
more ingenious will those in charge
Of them become in devising ways of
lsquandering them. I never have
been an admirer Of Mr.. jacobson but
it must be admitted that we have now
reached crisis in the affairs of this
state when there is crying need for
a man who, like him, will keep jealous
guard over the doors of the state
, treasury.
IMMORAL POLITICAL METHODS.
Probably because much of the leg
: islation proposed by the governor
:, contemplates increased officials to
add to the effectiveness of an already
we'll manned machine it is said that
the governor this year has made up
his mind to take unusual measures
y to bring pressure to bear on balky re-
= representatives. and senator's. Person
+ ally the governor has never been able
! to exercise a great deal Of influence
g with the representatives. So far
- from commanding their respect in
stances have been known when his
official messages have been greeted
. with open ridicule and when private
!, |ly he has undertaken to bring pres
- sure to bear to carry out his purpose
it has more than once been intimated
to him that he could find quite enough
- to do if he attended to the executive
duties of his Office without interfer-
ing with those Of the legislative
y branches of the government. which
), are not his proper concern. This veal
- the governor proposes to show these
II people where they get off at. Hither.
h to in making local appointments h
- has consulted members Of the legis.
~ lature freely and their advice ha:
had weight without making those wht
advised him sufficiently grateful tt
remember the favors he extended
IS This year he will pursue a diferen
II policy. Instead Of making appoint
o ment to minor positions promptly h
IT designs, it is said, to use them as :
o club to compel senators and repres
II entatives to vote for executive meas
l. ures. In other words, if the senators
n and Representatives don't vote RICH
+ their friends won't get any plums
l. When President Taft undertook t,
y punish progressive congressman b.
II refusing to make appointments o,
g their recommendation, purists wer'
l. inclined to characterize his action a!
e immoral. How they will regard tn
: action Of the governor in thus trad
= ing on his appointive power does no
n yet fully appear.
I'll CONTEST IN THE HOUSE.
oI 1t is quite possible that a chang
y will be made in the personnel Of tn
- house as the result Of it's sole cleo
- ton contest. In Stearns county there
h was a close run for place between
/ AIlcTlnN eAl.E