Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-10-07
W.S.HAMMOND
GlVESKEYNOTE
AT RED WING
Continued from reverse paqe.)

nOmic lines. Dishonesty, or suspected
dishonesty, in the administration OF
public affairs, and in private matters
as we'll, has resulted in numerous and
searching investigations. Efforts for
the suppression of vice and the aboli.
ton Of unsanitary practices have
brought about the establishment of
commissions Of many kinds charged
with the collection of information and
its dissemination. The adulteration OF
food and other articles caused the
enactment of the pure food laws and
similar measures with hosts Of Off
Gals, inspectors, chemists and eXami-
ners. We insist upon the supervision
of the work of engineers, BARRIERS,
horseshoers, and the examination
OF hotels, tenements, manufacturing
plants. and opera houses, making nee
essary the employment OF a large num-
Der Of inspectors, members of boards,
and experts. The sentiment favoring
a shorter work-day, compensation for
injured employees, child-labor laws and
regulations, the building of good roads,
prevention Of fires, drainage Of wet
lands. has demanded the enactment of
laws requiring administrative officers
and their assistants who must be paid
for their services and their expenses.
All incidental expenditures connected
with these things must be paid. The
payments are made in dollars. The
benefits come in greater comfort, i'm
proved health, and better social con.
ditions. The amount taken from the
treasury must first be put into it, All
these good things call for large expen-
ditures which must be met by the
revenues of the state enjoying them.
Much Spent for Roads.
The total taxes levied by the state
and its subdivisions for road and
bridge purposes in 1907 amounted to
$2191, 320.64, and in 1913-six years
later-the levy was $6,605,797.OS, an
increase Of more than 200 per cent.
The appropriations Of the legislature
of the year 1913 were $1,275,1309O
more than the appropriations of the
legislature of the year 1911. The state
cannot eXpend large sums of money
for good purposes, or for any purposes,
unless it's revenues be large enough
to meet these expenditures, and as
the demands increase SO must the
revenues increase. In 1905 the state
expenditures for Minnesota were be-
tween eight and nine millions of dol
lars; five years later they were be-
tween eleven and twelve millions of
dollars, and two years later-in 1912.
between fourteen and fifteen millions
of dollars, in 1913-eighteen and one
half millions of dollars, and it was es-
tlmated that for the year ending July
81, 1914, they would be more than
tWenty-one and tWo-thirds millions OF
dollars. Think of this just a moment ::
Approximately, an increase of $3,OOO,-
600 in the five years ending 1910, a
further increase Of 100000 for the
two years ending 1912, and a further
increase of about the same amount for
the one year 1913, and probably a
greater increase in the year 1914. Tax.
payers are complaining of the 1913
levy paid this year-the 1914 levy to
be paid next spring will be probably
greater.
We must keep ur the state institu.
tons. We must provide all the money
necessary for the state to carry on in
a good and proper manner it's many
functions. But we cannot 20 on as
we have been going-increasing our
expenditures and burdening the peo-
pie of the state with excessive taxa.
ton.
Economy and Efficiency.
Last year the governor appointed
the economy and efficiency commits
sion, made up of thirty prominent citi
zens Of the state who served without
pay and who met their own travelling
expenses. The commission has made
preliminary report and l quote sail.
ent sentences from it:
Efficiency in the state administra.
ton is the most important issue be.
fore the voters at the coming cleo.
tion.'
The diagram showing the enormous
growth of state expenditures must EN-.
Phasize the crying need of radical
changes"
"The commissions plan would
mark tremendous improvement. II
would check the constant rise in the
burdens OF taxation.s 1t would give
the people more for their money
1t would enable the people to control
their public service"
The commission promises to present
its final report prior to the meeting
OF the next legislature, and that body
in my judgment, should give the re
port most careful consideration and
endeavor to carry into effect by prop
er legislative enactment those recon
mendations that will promote economy
and efficiency.
The commission proposes reor
ganization of the executive service
that there may be responsible heac
to that service and that it's various
departments may be so co-ordinateC
that there will be no unnecessary EN-
ployes and no duplication of work; sc
that order and system may replace
confusion and incoherence. It pro
poses six executive departments, an(
director for each department. -Four
of these directors to be appointed by
the governor, one to be elected by the
people, and one to be selected by {
board which the governor appoints
In passing, let it be observed
that this makes for the shor
ballot "a thing much to be de
sired. The governor, the lieuten
ant governor, and the treasure
would be tho only state executive off
GERS elect.St. Our state constitution
Il