Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-01-08

ing, that only one salary should be
paid. The law pertaining to the ap-
pointment Of surveyors general should
be modified as the work can be handled
by one man. The law now provides
for appointments in districts where
there is no further need for such an
Office. The Office of state oil inspector
and that of the fire marshal should be
abolished and the duties of these two
positions transferred respectively to
the state dairy and food commissioner
and the insurance commissioner.
Oil Inspection.
The present system Of oil inspection
should also be modified. The law
should provide for a proper testing
method and for the inspection of oil
at the place where 1t is sold to the
consumer. If this is not done, the
department should be abolished, for It
is absurd to retain such a system for
the sole purpose Of creating public po-
s1tlons without giving adequate pro-
lection to the public. The oil inspec-
ton department can be and ought to
be made of much use to the public,
but as 1t is now operated it is of ex-
ceedingly small value.
Public Health Boards.
In the matter of public health ad-
ministration, there should also be
further consolidation. It was suggest
ed to the last legislature that the pow
ers and duties of the State Advisory
Commission should be placed in a new
division under the State Board Of
Health. The measure thus recon-
M nd
OF the legislature, but died in a con-
ference committee. Past friction be-
tween these bodies has been detrimen-
tai to the administration of both de-
partments. The law should be so
changed as to abolish the Advisory
Commission and transfer it's activities
to a separate department directly I'M
der the State Board of Health.
Social Hygiene.
BY reason of the war, state authori-
ties in 1917 created department for
the handling of venereal diseases. A
division for this work was established
under the State Board of Health This
; legislature should provide ample ap-
preparations to permit the continu-
ance OF the department so established.
Party Provisions.
Opportunity should be given by law
for political parties to legally assem-
BILE by selecting delegates at primary
elections to attend conventions to dis
cuss party principles and adopt plat
forms advocating measures pertaining
to the welfare of the state and through
joint party action endeavor to secure
the enactment thereof. For the state
to do this in way which will accom-
pl1sh the best results, the legislature
should be put on party basis. To go
back to the old convention system is
unthinkable, but the primary laws
should be SO amended as to prevent, II
possible, minority nominations and
enable the members of political par
ties to adopt platforms so as to create
party rather than personal issues in
the conduct of campaigns.
Vagrancy Law.
1t Is apparent that professional agi-
tators, frequently and for their own
benefit, mislead groups of laboring
men most often composed of foreign
ers unable to speak the English lam
guage and unfamiliar with our insti-
tutions. We have a Labor Depart
ment in Minnesota, whose duty it Is
to Investigate labor conditions within
our state. If enough is not done along
that line by this department, it should
be enlarged and required by law to do
more, but misrepresentation and ma
licious practices Of agitators, which
are intended to create class feeling,
disturbances Of the peace and indus
trial unrest, are extremely detrimental
to the laboring men themselves and to
the public. Such activities should be
made a crime and adequate punish
ment provided by law
Labor Legislation.
We all desire for laboring men an
adequate reward for services rendered.
We are anxious to secure for them the
best possible working conditions. The
only basis, however, upon which prog
rrss can be made is the recognition of
the sacredness Of agreements. Labor
ing men have the unquestioned right
to organize, but for the benefit of la
Dor itself the form of organization
proper responsibility. This could be
laws of the state enabling the labor
corporation so formed to provide ade-
quate guarantees for the performance
of obligations assumed Without some
such provision, the cause of unionism
is weakened and the dignity of organ
lied labor is lowered Legislation
which will protect both employees and
employers in the carrying out of their
contracts would be for their mutual
benefit and for the stability of the in
dustry in which they are both en-
gagged.
This Legislature should provide
methods whereby the persons injured
and manned can be properly trained
for some particular trade. A Com
mission appointed to make recommen-
dations for this purpose, has made
preliminary report as to the best meth
DDS to be pursued.
Workmen's Compensation Act.
The workman Is entitled to laws
which will furnish him certain and
prompt payment OF claims arising I'M
der the state compensation act. EN-
ployers should be compelled to insure
in companies approved and regulated
by state authority or furnish sufficient
bonds to- secure the payment of the
compensation to which employees are
entitled under the law. Self insurance,
on the part of employers, should be
permitted only under safe guarantees.
Laws for Women and Children.
Child labor laws should be made
more stringent and should be more
strictly enforced. Children until prop
erly developed and educated belong in
school and not in our Industries. Wo-
men should, believe, be kept out Of
factories to the greatest extent pos
sible, but when obliged to work there
In the laws should give them proper
and ample protection. Fhe experience
Of different industries has shown that
the most satisfactory results. In the
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