The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1916-05-10
STATE CAPITOL HAPPENINGS
events OF Gensral Interest In Mime
sofa Condensed and Revised for
the Greater Convenience
Of Busy Readers.

pressed for an opinion as to the stand
ing of the other county officers Of the
state, and the case Of the Railroad
and Warehouse Commission was Incl
dentally brought into question.
Members of the Railroad and Ware
house Commission were appointive I'M
till 1899, when the office was made
elective. In 1911 the Legislature made
the term of each commissioner six
years.
1t is a possibility that the rule of
law followed by the supreme court In
the decision may require the com.
missioners to confine themselves to
the two-year terms. The constitu-
ton provides for all state and coun
ty officers except state auditor.
The tenure of county officers is haz.
ardous because the act extending the
terms involves practically the same
principle as that which has just been
declared unconstitutional.
X X
Big Loans Declared illegal.
Disclosures that 1873 loans aggregat.
ing $1,650,0OO of state funds fail tc
comply with constitutional require.
ments, although not regarded as threat
ening any losses to the state, are to
effect more stringent rules to govern
Investments of state funds. Steps are
being taken to make pending loan
applications conform to the require
ments and curative act to remove
any question as to the legality of con.
summated loans may be asked in the
next legislature
The disclosures were special order
in meeting of the state investment
board. Resolutions were unanimously
adopted pledging the board to receive
no new applications for loans of any
kind until Jan. l, 1917, and then to
give preference to schools over ditch
and other projects, and ratifying the
delaying of warrants for borrowers
resolutions meeting the letter of the
laws
Postponement of reception of new
applications followed a statement that
applications for approximately $780,.
900 are now waiting action, while less
than $4,000 will be left when those
tentatively approved are closed and
only S2,456,O00 is expected to accrue
to the funds during the next year.
X X 4
Good Farm Help Needed.
Spring is backward, with seeding
progress from two to four weeks later
than last year mainly because of ex-
cessive moisture and continued cold,
according to initial 1916 crops prospect
reports from scattered districts receiv-
ed by Fred D. Sherman, state i'm
migration commissioner. Arrivals OF
new settlers were reported in Rem
vile and Dakota counties. Good farm
help was said to be in demand in Da-
kota, Goodhue, Chippewa and Mcleod
counties.
Observe Minnesota Day.
Minnesota day will be observed In
schools throughout the state with pro-
grams relating to the states history,
resources, natural features and indus
tries and to promote state patriotism.
Governor J. A. A. Burnquist having
proclaimed the day, c. G. Schulz, state
superintendent of education, mailed
a special bulletin compiled as basis
for the celebration.
Defend Grain Inspection.
Insisting that the Minnesota system
of grain inspection is the best known,
members of the State Railway and
Warehouse Commission took exception
to charges made by Representative
Young of North Dakota IN the debate
in Congress on the Federal grain stan.
dardization bill that dishonest and
crooked measures are used in inspec-
ton of grain at the terminals.
X X X
Big Balance In Treasury.
Report of receipts and disbursements
Of State Treasurer Gooding for April
has been completed. The cash balance
in all funds is $4,43S,585.4S. Last year
the cash balance was $698,516 for the
same period. The revenue fund is
$2,306,929.62, which Is larger than
last year. Some of the school funds
are exceedingly light,
X X X
Arguments In Timber Case.
The state timber board has just
heard from 9. G. Iverson. former state
auditor, and Burt F. Chase, former
land clerk, in regard to settlements for
state timber. The board decided tn
meet the latter part of May to take
up, with lumbermen the schedules FOR
measurement. The state now accepts,
payment for pulp Wood on the basis
of four cords to the 1000 feet, but
some contend that two cords to tho
1000 Is the proper basis. The board
also will decide whether to attempt II
recovar on this basis =