The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-01-08


are inclined to feel that, once appointed.
they have such an interest in their po-
sitions that they cannot be separated
from them without their consent. Many
when by reason of old age or physical
infirmity they are no longer able to
render effective service, feel that since
remunerative and suitable employment.
they should either be retired on par
tial pay, pensioned or permitted TO
s heS he as ey are eapase Of
forming. Where there is no provi
sion for retirement on pay or for pen"
ployes are retained in the. service, to the
detriment of the work and the discipline
of the administrative corps. l think,
IL the merit system Is established, the
term of those appointed should not be
indefinite but should be made for fixed
periods, say, for six years, the efficient
and worthy to be eligible for reap
pointment
ONCE Holders Against Plan.
However, the, first recommendation
greatest opposition, for in the reorgan-
ization of the civil administration
great many offices are abolished, and
hold such offices will favor the plan.
Many of these places are held by men
of the highest integrity and of great
from that of their friends, the reorgan-
ization is not desirable. 1t would not
be fair to say that their opposition is
sonaI element enters largely into it.
But, gentlemen, there can be no re-
organization without the abolition OF
plan to be be added to the present system.
1t is to take the place of it, We can
not keep what we have and have this
charged with having done any other
than patriotic duty. It's members
have served without compensation.
They neither seek nor expect any re-
w r W al
than the consciousness of public duty
well performed. The proposed reorgan
has not only the approval of thousands
of representative citizens, but 1T has
been commended by the press and from
the platform. 1t cannot be disregarded;
1t must have your best thought and
your most careful consideration. In
the report Is included form of bill for
an act M, making effective the recon- ON
parts are so related one to another that
it must receive your sanction or your
disapproval as a whole. While it may
ments-indeed 1 think it would be bet
ter to have members of the Railroad
as other boards and commissions are
instead of elected and the term of
civil service employees limited instead
of indefinite-neverthele ss the plan must
stand or fall as whole. To mangle it
is to defeat it, and it should not be
adopted in part. If 1 may be permit
method of dealing with this report:
believe it is worthy of the study of
special committee in the House and
special committee in the Senate; that
ferred to those committees and they
hold joint public hearings upon 1T, in
Economy Commission should be invited
to take part; and that after the hear
ings such communication and joint ac-
ton as your rules will permit should
he
that the reports in House and Senate
conform as nearly as practicable to
your consideration. believe if you
enact its provisions into law, you will
do the State great service.
State Expenditures Increase.
1t appears from chart in the final
report of the commission that the State
expenditures in 1905 were between
years later, in 1910, they We're between
eleven and twelve million dollars, an
increase of approximately three million
dollars. In 1912. two years later, they
were between fourteen and fifteen mil
lions. another increase of three millions.
and in 1913, eighteen and half mill
pendtures of the State for the decade
between 1908 and 1913 increased ap-
proximately l25 per cent, while the
same interval increased about II per
cent.
In 1913 there were six states whose
penses were less than So per capita;
twenty from 50 to 81; eleven from 81
to Sc; ten from Sc to $40, and one over
$40 per capita. Minnesota is one of the
ten states whose governmental cost
payments or expenses We're from So to
$40 per capita.
not always mean extravaganza or
waste. If there were a plague de-
stroying the people of the State, and
by large outlay of money it's ravages
were checked and thousands Of lives
saved. there is no one who would say
the money was, ill spent, and yet the
heavy that taxes would be many times
multiplied. The work of some of our
boards and commissions may have been
extremely beneficial to the people of the
State, may have saved them from large
payments of money. The cost of main
tenance of the boards and commissions
may have been trifiing compared with
the results obtained. The mere fact
then, that our governmental expenses
have been increasing does not warrant
one in charging the State with eXtrava-
gance.
Urges Economy in Appropriations.
Nevertheless, we find our expendi-
our population, and our State among
the number having the greatest per
capita governmental expenses. There
is complaint over taxes and the people
expect this Legislature to move in the
direction of economy. OF course small
portion of the taxpayers burden is due
L
ing the work of this session it may be
said there is a substantial reduction in
the amounts appropriated, and if the
municipalities of the State would do
proportionately as well taxes would be
substantially lightened. The appropria-
tions of the Legislature of the year
1913 were $1,275,130.90 more than the
appropriations for the year 1911. !
recommend that in making up the ap-
preparations you do not permit the ag-
gregate amount to exceed the appro-
priations of 1911. This l am quite sure
can be accomplished without injury to
the. State or any of it's institutions or
The question, rs insanity in the
United States on the increase?" has re-
ceived the attention of many students
and investigators. In six years from
1904 to 1910 the number of insane re-
ported in institutions increased 25 per
cent. while during the same period the
creased but II per cent. In 1904 one
person out of every 543 was confined in
an institution for the insane. and in
1910 one person out of every 40. These
figures are startling, but it should be
noted that an increase in the number
of insane persons in institutions does
not necessarily mean an increase in
the number of insane persons in the
country. Formerly there was dread of
confinement in an insane asylum, and
people were reluctant to send to them
rela tives and friends. But that feeling
of dread has largely passed away, and
the wei managed institution is now
recognized as the best place for the
mentally afflicted. The demands made
upon our State asylums for the insane
are very great Whatever is needed
for the care or comfort of those con-
fined in these institutions should be
provided. and for them l bespeak tke
most geLerOus treatment.
Proud of State Institutions.
I shall not refer to the penal, edu-
cational and other institutions of the
State other than to commend to you the
reports of the officers having them in
charge, an to express the hope that
YOU will so provide that they will
continue to rank among the best in the
Iii til k.afA