The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-09-07
GOOD RECORD OF
ONE COMMISSION
THE BOARD OF CONTROL KEEPS
WELL UNDER APPROPRI-
ALTON GRANTED 1T.
LARGE BALANCE TURNED BACK
TURN BACK INTO STATE TREAS
URY NEARLY 100000 OF
UNUSED FUNDS.

st. Paul, Sept. 5.-Many boards
and commissions go to make UP Min
nesota's state government, but none
of them approach in Importance that
of the state board of control, the du-
ties of which are the management and
financial control of some sixteen state
institutions. Though provided with a
line of activity involving the welfare
of many thousands of dependents
and the expenditure of millions Of dol
lars, few state departments have less
Of the spotlight, and this fact explains
the total absence of publicity when
the board the other day did the almost
unheard of thing of turning back into
the state treasury unused balances to-
falling over 100000. The year before
this same board turned back similar
balances amounting to over 5000
and there was like absence Of the
spotlight. Had any other department
performed the same miracle it would
have been heralded all over the state.
Annually the various state depart
ments are called upon to turn i'll to
the state auditor a list of uneXpended
moneys, but as rule the amounts
found are woefully small, and when a
department finds nearly 100000 it
can return to the state treasury the
saving to the taxpayers of the state
represents something that calls for
more than ordinary mention. Had
III Ioci,.oI ~ op111l IA
spent every cent of the amount turned
in and there would have been no come
back. The board, however, preferred
to play square with those who pay the
bills and the 100000 now reposing in
the state treasury is the answer.
Listed in the balances turned back
into the state treasury by the board
is one of nearly $4,000 saved from
the amount appropriated by the lcgis-
lature for the support of the AnHka
ASYLUM for the insane. Another in
wolves over $4,000 saved in the man.
sgement of the St. Peter hospital for
the insane, and still another an item
of $4,000 saved from the amount ap-
propriated for the support OF the state
school for the feeble minded at arr
bault. Altogether there are ten items
of similar savings for the year 1910,
while those for 1915 amount to score
or more ranging in amounts from
500 to $4,000. The latter amount
represents unused moneys to the
credit of the state institutions contin-
gent fund. This year over $4,000 was
turned in from the same source. Con-
sidering the marked advance in the
cost of living and the high prices ask
ed for everything, the saving made
by the board in the management of
the various state institutions is re-
markable and calls for the highest
praise. The board was created in 1900
and it is a safe bet that in the sixteen
years of its existence it has saved the
taxpayers millions of dollars. The
pity is that other institutions of the
state originally under its control were
ever taken away from the board; the
state university, for instance.
This week will see the opening of
the state Republican headquarters IN
st. Paul. Chairman Thornton has ar
rived on the scene and has been busy
ever since getting the machinery IN
shape. The headquarters are at the
Hotel St. Francis, new hosiery re-
Gently erected. In way the hand
ling of the Republican campaign this
year is largely perfunctory, as the
election of the several Republican can
d:dates for state offices is regarded
as a cinch. The Democratic leaders
eoncede such and say they will be
lucky if they keep their organization
intact. Because of dissatisfaction
with the head of the ticket the Demo-
cratic forces are badly broken up.
Thomas Frankson, Republican can
Gidate for lieutenant governor, whose
official scalp was sought by several
who charged violation of the cor
rupt practices act in that he spent
more for campaign purposes than the
law allows, has come through clean.
The supreme court disposed OF the
controversy by sustaining the findings
Of the lower court, which, in effect
was a dismissal of the case. Inc
court held that the directors had not
established their right to interfere.
Some of those who made the COM
rlaint, it was shown, had not even
voted at the primaries. F>ranksons
name will now go on the ticket and
as matter of course his election will
follow.
The executors of the late Frederick
Weyerhaeuser, we'll known st. Paul
lumber king, have paid into the state
treasury a total of $362,080.72 as an
inheritance tax and with its receipt
another long drawn out controversy
became history. The tax paid was on
a valuation of over 81, 100000, fig
ure strenuously disputed by the Wey-
crhaeuser heirs, but who on threat
by Attorney General Smith to take