The Tomahawk., 1916-12-28
LAW BENG SOUGHT
FOR PAPER MILLS
ATTORNEY GENERAL SMITH
DRAFTS BILL AT REQUEST OF
MINNESOTA EDITORS.
RECOMMENDS TEN CHANGES
State Efficiency Commission Urges
Creation Of Department Of Public
Domain Embracing Several b.
reaus With Commissioners.

St. Paul.
Attorney General Smith is giving
personal attention to drafting bill
| for Introduction in the next legisla-
ture for the establishment of state
| owned paper mills on state timber
lands, as proposed bv the Minnesota
Editorial association following the
| conclusion that the situation as to 191!
supply of print paper is so serious az
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 CT the Mortified
legislation committee of the associss
ton, who consulted Attorney Genera!
Smith and other state officials on the
subject.
Although the state supreme court
more than 20 years ago ruled adverse
~ on a 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
we'll as returning the advantages prom.
Used to the state.
And in the paper mill project, it is
explained, the state will be assured
of a good market for pulpwood from
state lands and grounds for big re-
forestation undertaking.
X X 4
Efficiency Board Reports.
The report of the state efficiency
and economy commission summarizing
it's recommendations for 10 changes in
Minnesota's system of government,
has been presented to Governor J. A.
A. Burnquist by A. J. Rockne, chair
man of the commission. The commits.
sion will meet again Dec. 20 to make
possible minor changes and plan
campaign for getting the program
through the legislature. The recon.
mendations will be incorporated into
data compiled will be made public
more fully.
Recommendation In the report in.
clude:
Creation of state department of
public domain, embracing bureaus
of public lands, fish and game, for
ests, immigration, mines, highways
1roi r,o nd
ed by a 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 100 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.
Wealth Under Lakes.
State Auditor J. A. o. Preus states
that fabulous mineral wealth ulsderly-
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 rui-
ings on various phases of the subject,
and mainly that of ownership. MI
merous lakes in Northern Minnesota
are underlaid with rich iron ore de-
posts worth probably many millions
of dollars" Mr.. Preus said.
4 X
To Ask More Teachers.
The need of betterment of the teach
ing facilities in the arts college is to
be employed by tbs toard of regents
in its request for appropriations. Tn
der direction of President Vincent
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
statement from the president dis
| closes, student enrolment in the arts
college increased AIS per cent. almost
one-half, while faculty membership In