Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1914-02-20
REPORT WILL Be
HIGHLY CRITICAL
Economy Commission Ready
to Explode Bomb.
WOULD REDUCE FAT JOBS
Consolidation of Many State Depart.
ments and Elimination of Others
to Be Recommended.


cynically inclined have not seen fit to
accept Governor Eberhart's economy
and efficiency commission, named by
him some two months ago, in the
spirit in which it was launched, but
there are indications that they may
shortly change their views. Rumors
down here are to the effect that the
commission, after some weeks of in
vestigation, has shaped up bomb or
two that may be exploded very soon.
As l get it, the commission, which is
composed of some of the most repre-
sentative men of the state ever as
sembled in one body, is amazed at the
mixup of boards and commissions that
it has found and its report, which will
call for a consolidation of many state
departments and the elimination of
others, will be a revelation when is
sued. If the report does not bring a
roar from a large number now enjoy
ing fat jobs at the expense of the, tax
payers l miss my guess. There is to
be no criticism of existing conditions,
just recommendation that they be
changed in the interest of economy
and efficiency, which was Governor
Eberhart's idea when he named the
present investigating body. The re-
port of the commission will keep the
next legislature busy, as there will be
few things that it will have to rec
ognize and remedy even if it does not
call for the full proposed reorganiza-
ton of the state government as out
lined.
While Governor Eberhart and friends
pretend to be amused, and the several
opposition gubernatorial candidates
apparently Indifferent, there is no get
ting away from the fact that both are
interested in the coming Republican
get together" planned for March 10
at a meeting of anti-Eberhart Repub-
leans held in Minneapolis. Should
the gathering be large one and rep
resentatiye as to membership trouble
is in store for some one. If the elimi-
nation feature as proposed prevails
and one member of the field decided
upon as the party's standard bearer
the administration faces trouble;
while if a fight results and nothing is
done the opposition can kiss the de-
sired goal goodby. Some published
accounts of the gathering held last
week to the contrary the meeting was
a representative one. There was no
"piff1e' about it. Those present went
at things in businesslike way and
even if nothing results from the
planned get together scheduled for
March 10 the future will profit in a
party cleansing way.
!. !. !.
Word has been. received in st. Paul
of the death in California of Peter E.
Hanson of Litchfield. He had been in
ill health for some time. Mr.. Hanson
served two terms as secretary of state,
being succeeded by the present in.
cumbent, julius A. Schmahl, At one
time Mr. Hanson was seriously con.
sidered for the Republican nomina.
ton for governor. He served several
terms in the legislature and in hip
day was quite political power.
\ = =
Sam Langum of Preston, former sec.
rotary of the state senate and later
postmaster of the United States sen.
ate, is reported to be anxious to try
swords with Secretary of State
Schmahl. The story is that he sought
administration help, but his ambi-
tions were not encouraged. He was
told that he would have to stand on
his own tub. In state capitol circles
Secretary of State Schmahl is consid-
cred a sure thing and opposition of a
serious character is regarded as de-
cidedly remote. Schmahl is one of
those vote getters who seems to grow
more popular with each election In
the three contests in which he has
figured no one has been able even to
dent his lead.
The scramble for Congressman
Manahan's scalp in the new Tenth
district, with Victor L. Johnson OF
Chisago county as the chief aspirant
for the place, is due to take on new
features. State Senator G. ]. Swan
son of Anoka county is thinking seri
ously of getting into the race and il
is generally understood that he will
file. This naturally means trouble
for Senator Johnson and in the minds
of many the election of Manahan
Friends Of Senator Swanson, however
will not have it that way. They con
tend that the mixup would favor their
man. Should Mr.. Swanson forego the
state senatorship it is said j. A. Stone
berg of Isanti county will go after
the job.
Attorney General Smith won a sub
stantial victory last week in the fed