The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1914-05-21
GOV. EBERHART
Opens CAMPAIGN
CONTINUED from first page.)

u AAVO OAANAA AAA~A
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II the people are not alert, it will be
amended to death. A man with q
ton for any purpose. There is no Law
restricting the use of funds therefor
He can spend 100000 in framing VI
county and state mass convention
suu IN paying noeel and travelling ex
peoses Of delegates.
There Is no law controlling the az
penditures for such purposes. A mar
can spend $100, 900 In. entertaining and
perssading the delegates to such q
gathering without suhjecting himself
to any legal penalty. Such a candi
date, bearing the Endorsement Of such
q convention, ID thSrefore unworthy
OF support.
hold the ofiek pf governor today
not because ! am the choice of 9
hand-picked convention of defeated Of
fce-seekers, but by the direct vote Of
the people at the primary and regular
elections. Our system Of government
guarantees to the people the right ia
elect their own officials. The right to
nominate is just as important as the
right to elect and as long g am gov.
ernor I shall oppose every effort to
destroy the direct primary law.
It is therefore of utmost Importance
that every voter attend the primary
election on the 10th day Of June next,
and express his choice for governor,
It is important that the best man
should be selected and it is also OF
the highest importance that the man
chosen-whoever he may be-should
be nominated by the people them.
selves. Being forewarned we should be
forearmed, and decide the question so
emphatically at the coming primaries
that it will forever put stop to such
manipulation as marked the control
and domination Of the elimination
meeting.
Greater Care and Economy in Making
Appropriations So As to Reduce
Taxation.
Another very important issue in the
coming campaign is an intelligent
method Of appropriating public funds.
In my first message to tho legislature,
1911, I made the following recon.
mendations:
II believe that the time has arrived
in the history of this state, when the
public good demands a radical modifi-
cation and reform in certain phases of
our state administration.
I'm the shaping of our state govern.
ment, and the administration of our
institutions and public resources, we
are entitled to the best principles and
most efficient methods. Before the
installation of any reform, however,
we wish to assure ourselves that It
can stand the test of experience as
practical and businesslike, that 1t
conduces to public economy and eff.
cheney, and that it represents the true
interests, welfare and prosperity of all
the people as whole
This has been the keynote of every
message since, but the existing meth.
cd of making appropriations from the
public treasury is deep rooted one
and no relief can come until the peo-
pie of the state instruct the legislature
to adopt better business methods.
The present grab-bag, log-rolling
method whereby all appropriations
are thrown into the legislative hopper
and ground out during the last week
OF the session is absolutely indefens.
ible.
Under the constitution of the state,
the governor is authorized to strike
out or veto items in the appropriation
bills but he has no authority to re-
duce them in amount. Under that
authority, l vetoed in the last appro-
priation bills, $225,0OO unnecessary ex.
penditure and had l been permitted to
reduce items, l should have saved at
least 100000 more to the taxpayers
of the state
Instead of the old method. 1 propose
the adoption of budget system under
which every appropriation must be
carefully itemized and presented to
the taxpayers of the state at least one
month in advance of every legislative
session. This budget is to be printed
and distributed to the taxpayers of the
state so that they can examine it and
instruct their representatives in the
legislature what expenditures should
be authorized. 1t should state in detail
the needs of all departments, and in.
situations, giving the reasons therefor
so that the people could act with full
knowledge of the needs of each de.
partment. This method has been
adopted in nearly all European coun.
tries and has everywhere resulted in
greater economy by giving the tax.
payers better control of all public ex.
penditures. Such a system will also
enable the members of the legislature
to consult with their constituents in
regard to appropriations. This is i'm.
possible under the present method, be-
cause not even the members them.
selves, outside of the few who con.
stitute the appropriation committees
can possibly know what the appropria,
ton bills contain until they are pre-