The Tomahawk., 1917-01-11

that without our schools the loyalty OF
today to our state and to American IN
stitutions would be impossible. Ihefc
are those who may believe 1T desirable
to change the amounts OF the money
appropriated to particular departments
or branches of our educational SFSteNl'
giving more to some and less to others.
There are citizens who. on account OF
the situation in some portions or the
state, wisely advocate the eStaDilsh-
ment Of more night schools for the
purpose of giving adults, especlallS
those Of foreign descent, an opportu-
nifty to acquire at least an elementary
institutions, and thus become more IA
miliar with the purposes and Ideals OF
American citizenship.
Appropriations for Administrative ne-
pnrtments.
The State of Minnesota is a growing
state. More and more is expected OF
it's officials. No business INSTITUTION
would handle it's business AFFAIRS IN the
manner in which Il public INSTITUTION
such as Minnesota. has handed ners.
In some departments. on account OF in
sufficient help, the work OF the officials
is necessarily delayed. There are some
boards and offices that ought to be
abolished, but there are others, Such
as the investment board, handling mil
lions of dollars in securities without
proper facilities and help for SO DONG
that are in need of greater approprla-
lions to transact their business as II
ought to be transacted. In litigation
involving enormous amounts the state
meets the opposition OF men receiving
high salaries with expert knowledge OF
the particular subjects of when they
have made speciality. II IL pays pr
vate corporations to be in a position TO
acquire the service Of such men the
Attorney Generals office should be
provided with sufficient funds so as 10
be able to acquire such additional as
sistance that may be needed from time
to time. If the public examiners once
is to conduct efficiently all the examl-
nations demanded of that department,
larger appropriations for it's work are
necessary The timber board has not
sufficient authority or funds to proper
ly safeguard the particular state re-
sources, Of which it has the manage
ment. It would be a very easy matter
for the state, because of insufficient
help in certain departments, to lose
hundreds of thousands of dollars IN
the management of its trust funds ana
in the care Of its resources. 1t there
fore appears that, if the properties OF
Minnesota are to be properly hanoleo
and protected, although expenditures
can be reduced in some departments, 1t
is impossible to reduce the total ex-
penditures Of all the departments,
which amount, as aforesaid, to nearly
s1,5O000O AS this sum Is less than
one-fifth of the total annual legislative
authorizations it is clear that even IT.
a reduction in the cost of running the
executive departments were made, such
a reduction would scarcely have any
effect on the tax rate, but IT, on the
other hand, the Legislature should not
appropriate sufficient funds to secure
efficient management, through the
proper equipment of it's boards with
qualified men and enough money with
which to do the work demanded OF
them, it would be possible in the long
run Tor the State td sustain under such
conditions enormous losses. Through
the proposed reorganization OF state
departments it cannot be expected that
vou can lower to any considerable ex-
tent the direct cost of government,
but the possibility Of saving immense
sums for the state indirectly through
the adequate safeguarding of its re-
sources and through the business-nke
conduct Of it's affairs by the right kind
of cooperation and co.9rdlnatlon OF
its various boards and offices is so evil
dent as to show, most clearly, the i'm
perative need Of legislation which will
provide for such Encouragement OF
our civil administration.
Budget System.
On or prior to the first day of next
month, I am required, under our pres
ent law, to submit to you the estimates
for the next biennial period. You will
then be in position to know how
much higher or lower than this years
expenditures, the estimated expendi-
lures for next year will be. This pro-
cedure has been made possible by rea-
son of the enactment by the last Leg1s-
lature Of what is known as the budget
system in appropriations. Under said
law the Governor is required to pre-
pare forms to be sent to all the differ
ent departments and to the dlHerent
state officials with the request that tho
blanks therein be filled in for the pur-
pose Of getting information as to the
exact amount of the appropriation that
each department believes 1t Will be
necessary for it to have during the next
biennial period and for what the
amounts asked for shall be used. The
LEGISLATURE will, therefore, on Febru-
airy first Of this year, be in possession
Of facts pertaining to these appropria-
tons that it is now impossible for me
to communicate to you and thereafter,
when the different departments and Of
ficials of the different state 1nstitu-
tions have been heard upon the pro-
nosed budget to the extent that you
may permit it is for you to determine
how much Of a reduction If any should
be made therein. No one would deny
that it is the duty of us all to keep
down the legislative appropriations
during this session to the lowest pos
sible point, but to reduce the proposed
budget to such an extent as to cripple
our institutions or to destroy their eff
fectiveness for good would be neither