The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-12-22
Attorney General Smith Drafts Bill
for Establishment Of Factories on
State Timber Lands as Remedy
for Serious Situation.
st. Paul,

Clud0:
Creation Of state department Of
public domain, embracing bureaus
of public lands, fish and game, for
ests, immigration, mines, highways
and drainage and waters, each head
ed by commissioner.
Elimination of unsalaried state
boards and substitution of salaried
commissions, the members to devote
their entire time to the states work.
A single state board of education
to replace all existing boards with
the exception Of the university
boards
Designation of the state board of
control to act as state purchasing
agent, manage the capitol and han
die other new duties.
A state bureau of investments.
Reorganization of the state health
department.
Amendment of the state constitu-
ton to limit the house membership
to 160 and the senate membership
to 80.
A constitutional convention for the
complete revision of the state con-
stitution.
A law compelling all state depart
ments to turn all miscellaneous re-
ceipts over to the state treasurer as
soon as received.
Divorce of the state grain inspec-
ton system from the railroad and
warehouse commission.
Abolition of present hotel and oil
inspections system, and the trans
fer Of these duties to the dairy and
food commission.
The report represents the commits
sion's work since Aug. 3, 1915, when
it was organized.
X r X
For State Paper Mills.
Attorney General Smith is giving
personal attention to drafting a bill
for introduction in the next legisla.
ture for the establishment of state
owned paper mills on state timber
lands, as proposed by the Minnesota
Editorial association following the
conclusion that the situation as to 1917
supply of print paper is so serious as
to threaten discontinuance of many
Minnesota newspapers.
A draft of such a bill was request
ed by Frank A. Day of the Fairmont
Sentinel, and once secretary to the
late Governor John A. Johnson, Chair
man Herman Roe of the Mortified
News; and other publishers on the
legislation committee of the associa-
ton, who consulted Attorney General
Smith and other state officials on the
subject
Although the state supreme court
more than 20 years ago ruled adverse
ly on proposal that the state engage
in commercial business, the attorney
general said, conditions have greatly
changed in the interim and he hoped
to draw bill that would stand the
constitutionality and all other tests,
and afford the desired relief to the
Minnesota newspaper publishers as
well as returning the advantages prom
ised to the state.
And in the paper mill project, it is
explained, the state will be assured
of good market for pulpwood from
state lands and grounds for big re-
forestation undertaking.
X X X
Praise for Third Regiment.
Praise for the Third Minnesota regi.
ment, including the statement that II
had met every demand upon 1t and
conducted itself admirably during it's
service at Camp Llano Grande, is con-
tanned in letter received by Colonel
H. V. Eva from Brigadier General e.
M. Lewis, commandant of the Llano
Grande camp. To this was added a
letter from Brigadier General F. E.,
Resche of the Minnesota brigade, also
expressing high satisfaction with the
troops.
To Ask More Teachers.
The need of betterment of the teach
ing facilities in the arts college is to
be employed by the board of regents
in it's request for appropriations. I'm
uST uT6CllOu VI TT0Slu6uI NluC6uL
facts are being marshaled to show how
inadequately this college has been;
looked after in recent years. In the
two college years ended July 81 last,
a statement from the president dis
closes, student enrolment in the arts
college increased 475 per cent, almost
one-half, while faculty membership in
creased only IA per cent.
X X X
Wealth Under Lakes.
State Auditor j. A. o. Preus states
that fabulous mineral wealth underly-
ing numerous lakes in Northern Min.
nesota may be mined and converted to
useful ends. He plans to recommend
new laws on the subject to the next
Legislature, if only to get court rul,
ings on various phases of the subject,
and mainly that of ownership. "Nu.
merous lakes in Northern Minnesota
are underlaid with rich iron ore de-
posits worth probably many millions
Of dollars" Mr.. Preus said