The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-01-08
GOVERNOR EbFRnART DELIVERS
final MESSAGE TO LEGISLATURE

achievements covering only that short
period:
The primary law for the nomination
OF state and national officers.
Non-partisan selection of judicial,
legislative, county and city officers.
The merit system extended to the
Labor Department and the expert SER
vice in other departments.
Mothers pensions.
Adult probation law.
The indeterminate sentence and pa
role systems.
Abolition of capital punishment.
A practical workmen's compensation
Added 1873 teachers, 4.337 students
and $4,000 worth of buildings to the
state university.
The university budget system result
ing in maintaining all expenditures
within appropriations.
Bringing the university In direct con-
tact with every rural section or the
state through the extension depart
ment, which this year conducted 2'Z9S
meetings with total attendance OF
326740 as compared with 273 meet
ings and 1O0,2SS attendance five years
The boys and girls acre yield corn
contest with 700 entries for 1913, and
As prize winners securing an average
yield of IS bushels per acre, and with
800 boys already entered for the 1914
contest.
Elimination of political considera-
tions in the appointment of university
regents and judges of the various
courts.
Establishment of industrial branches
of training in 2S6 schools throughout
the state in which at least 100000 or
Minnesota's $4,000 school children are
given the advantages of a practlcal
education.
The best constructed and equipped
prison in the world costing, approx
mately $2,250,000 with its farm ma
chinery manufacturing activities.
The most modern and successful in
dustrial school for girls in the United
States.
Organization of the public highway
system with 5000 miles of state high
ways improved and plans furnished for
I21 bridges.
Extension of state drainage system
with the reclamation of 623.400 acres
at the low average cost OF only Sl:39
per acre, and the construction OF ~
miles of roads in connection herewith
Publicity for Minnesota.s agricultural
and Industrial resources in every nook
and corner of the United States.
Many Settlers Attracted.
More actual settlers We're attracted
to Minnesota than was obtained by all
surrounding states combined, resulting
in the increase of Minnesota farm land
values nearly 100 per cent
Friendlier relations and better CO.
operation between country and city.
Established state control or railroad
rates by complete valuation of rail-
road properties and the final cdJudica-
ton of the Minnesota rate case in the
United States Supreme Court by means
of which merchandise rates were re-
duced IS per cent, commodity rates
reduced 10 per cent, and $2,3O5.0S1.3l in
refunds returned 10 shippers up to Sep
tember 80 this year
A thorough and complete system of
inspecting weights and measures
throughout the entire state.
Collected through the attorney gem
eral and public examiner $2,122,224
in back taxes, penalties, timber tres
pass, foreign inheritance and mlscei-
laneOus cases, and S1O1,049.4O in addi-
fiOn thereto is under process OF
collection.
Increase in number of state banks
between Nov. Is, 1909, and Oct. 81, 1871 A.,
IS per cent, capitalization 40 per cent
and deposits So per cent.
Increase of national banks during
that period in number per cent ca apo
| SIS per cent. During this entire i've
year period only four state banks have
| failed and in those instances depositors
| realized from SO to S31$ per cent.
Established a system of taxation as
complete and practical as that of any
state in the Union. and the only one
system all property in the state is now
taxed on a more equitable basis than
| ever before and as a result all taxes
will ultimately be lowered arotsct labor
| by safeguarding machinery. install ling
| safety devices. and providing better
sanitary conditions, practticaiiyy all OF II
result fatal accidents have been re-
| duced from PSI in 1910 to 1i9 in 1914,
or 40 per cent, and non fatal accidents
have been reduced in similar proper
ton.
One hundred and ffty-seven thousand
dollars has been paid to employees un-
der the workmen's compensation act
| in 2,46S cases, and 1,160 other cases are
| in process of satisfactory settlement.
The net results have been the best
| cooperation between labor and capital
| ever experienced in this state.
Surpassed every other state in maxi
| ing appropriation to stamp out tuber-
culosis by the building and mainte 81
| counties have already made provision
| for such hospitals, three of which are
already completed and nine are under
| process of construction.
| The investment and administration OF
| the states school, internal improve
ment, and swamp land funds until 1t
now aggregates a total of $34,000,00O
without the loss of a single cent.
Five years of administration without
| a charge of incompetency or miscon-
duct against single state official.
of the state educational laws by an
educational commission:
And finally, a definite, comprehen-
sive and practical plan for the organ
| ization of all state departments in the
interest of efficiency and economy. the
merit system of appointments, and the
| budget system of appropriations.
The value of public service can be
measured only in terms of successful
| achievement for the benefit of all the
people and in friendships that will not
| fortune. Measured thus / cannot help
but feel that my ADMINISTRATION has
been worth while. shall close it with
throughout the state. than has ever
been my good fortune to possess before
Fortunate I'm Appointments.
To the various officials connected
with this administration 1 desire or
this occasion to express my deepest
gratitude: No governor in all the pas
in his appointments than have been
Not a single charge of incompetence
or misconduct against a state officia
achievement. It has been an unbroker
period of loyalty and efficient co-opera'
| ton.
Recognizing the fact that favorable
| actment and enforcement of law a:
well as in the adoption of all impor
tant reforms, 1 wish to express my
earnest appreciation of the importan'
service rendered in this connection b!
the press of the state. Personally my
relations with the newspaper men have
been most agreeable, and I can eX
press my appreciation of their valuable
cooperation in no higher terms thar
to state that during my entire admin
istration they have never yet betrayed
Words fail me on this occasion t.
cypress my gratitude to the people o
1 Minnesota TOT cOTleTrlHS on me tn
greatest honor that can be conferre,
on any citizen of the state. 1 hav'
tried to give in return the best Their
was in me, and while this honored pc
sition has Melted me nothing in finan
cial return, it has given me a trainin.
and experience which for the purpos
of future achievement is worth NOR
than half a lifetime. Mistakes AM
shortcomings I gladly acknowledge
They have been the most importan
source of my valuable experience.
Grateful to all the people of the stat
for the confidence reposed in me, / nov
surrender my important trust to Gov
ernor Hammond, my worthy successor
bespeaking for hin that same loyalt
and cooperation so essential in sue
| cessful business administration. and I