CHAPTER XIV.

OTHER STATE OFFICERS.

Railroad Commissioners.-To prevent railroads from charging extortionate rates for passengers or freight; to see that reasonable facilities are provided, such as depots, side tracks to warehouses, cars for transporting grain, etc.; to prevent discrimination for or against any person or corporation needing these cars: in other words, to secure fair play between the railroads and the people, a railroad commission consisting of from one to three members has been established in many states by the legislature.

The railroad commissioners have authority to establish a maximum rate for passengers and freight, to regulate the building of warehouses and the handling of grain. They visit the different parts of the state to see that reasonable facilities are afforded, to hear complaints, and to adjust differences. They also appoint and supervise the work of the chief grain inspector. The railroad companies are required to report annually such facts as the commissioners call for.

Insurance Commissioner.-To protect the people from wild cat insurance companies, there is an officer called the insurance commissioner. No insurance company can begin transacting business in the state until it has satisfied the commissioner that its methods of insurance and its financial condition are such as to give security as it promises to those insuring. The certificate of authority granted to any company may be revoked by the commissioner at any time when the company refuses or neglects to comply with the conditions established by

law.

State Librarian.-Each state has a valuable library for the use of the members of the state departments. It is in charge of the state librarian, who acts under prescribed rules.

Officers Peculiar to Certain States.-There are in some states other officers, necessitated by special industries. Thus, in Minnesota, where the grain, dairy and lumber interests are very important, there are inspectors of grain, a dairy commissioner, and surveyors-general of logs.

Minnesota has two other state officers. The first should receive especial attention.

Public Examiner.-To render assurance doubly sure that public money shall be used only for the purposes for which it is designed, provision is made for the appointment of "a skillful accountant, well versed in the theory and practice of bookkeeping," to exercise constant supervision over the financial accounts of state and county officers and of banking institutions incorporated under state laws. This officer is called the public examiner.

For obvious reasons, he cannot hold any other office under the state, or any county, municipality, or institution therein, or in any bank created under state law.

Among his duties are the following:

1. To visit the several public, educational, charitable, penal, and reformatory institutions of the state at least twice a year, at irregular periods and without notice to the officers thereof, and make an exhaustive examination of the books and accounts thereof, including the purposes and items of expenditure and the vouchers therefor.

2. To visit for similar purposes at least once a year, without notice, the offices of state and county treasurers and auditors; to investigate the character and financial

standing of bondsmen, and then to approve or reject them; to establish a correct and, so far as practicable, uniform system of bookkeeping by said officers.

3. To visit at least once a year without notice each banking institution incorporated by the state, and ascertain its financial condition and the security afforded to depositors.

The officers visited are required by law to furnish the public examiner facilities for his work, and to make returns to him under oath. The examiner reports to the governor, who is empowered to take action to protect the interests of the people.

Oil Inspector.-To protect the people from the danger of burning oil unfit for illuminating purposes, there is an officer called the inspector of illuminating oils. The inspector appoints a deputy for each county. It is the duty of these officers to test the illuminating oils offered for sale, and to mark the barrel or package containing it "approved" or "unsafe for illuminating purposes, as the case may be. Penalties are attached to the selling of oils not approved.

Appointment and Term.-The officers named in this chapter are elected in some states; in others they are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. The term is usually two years.

All are required to give bonds for the faithful discharge of their duties. All have clerks, deputies, or assistants, appointed by themselves, for whose official acts they are responsible.

ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS.

Besides the boards in charge of the several state institutions there are usually a number of administrative boards. Of these the most important are: