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:
1. The state hoard of health, whose duty it is "to make inquiries concerning the causes of disease, especially of epidemics; the effect of employments, conditions, and circumstances upon the public health," etc.
2. The state board of charities and corrections, whose duty it is "to investigate the whole system of public charities and correctional institutions of the state, and examine into the condition and management thereof, especially of prisons, jails, infirmaries, public hospitals, and asylums."
3. State board of equalization, which equalizes assessments throughout the state so as to render taxation as nearly just as possible. This board takes cognizance only of classes of property; it does not attempt to correct individual grievances.
4. The state board of immigration, appointed "to encourage immigration, by disseminating information regarding the advantages offered by this state to immigrants."
5. The commissioners of fisheries, whose duty is to take means to increase the number of food fish in lakes and rivers. To this end the board secures from the United States commissioner of fisheries the quota of spawn allotted from time to time to the state, and from other sources spawn of such fish as seem desirable, and has them placed in such lakes and rivers as they will be most likely to thrive in.
The members of these boards are appointed by the governor. They serve without pay, except the board of equalization. The state pays the expenses incident to the discharge of their duty. The secretary of each board receives a salary, specified by law.
There are also boards to examine candidates for admission to practice medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and law.
Some Pertinent Questions.
Locate the state university, the state normal schools, all of the schools for the unfortunate, the lunatic asylums, the state prisons.
What is the maximum rate per mile that can be charged by railroads for the transportation of passengers in this state? How came this to be? If a farmer wished to ship a carload of wheat without putting it into a warehouse, how could he get a car? If a car were refused what could he do?
Examine the end of a kerosene cask, and find out what the marks on it mean. By reference to the latest report of the secretary of the state board of immigration, find out what inducements to immigrants this state offers. Is there probably such a board as this in the eastern states? Why? In European countries? Why?
Does your school receive copies of the pamphlets issued by the state board of health?