SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART V 325 



Co-operation between the trade and the law-enforcing body has 

 been, and will be, an important factor in this work. I am perfectly 

 free to admit that I never recommended an amendment to an old, 

 or sanction the enactment of new legislation without discussing 

 with a committee, or others interested, the effect that may be ex- 

 pected. From my contact with the trade during these meetings, I 

 have reached the conclusion that a very large percent of the trade is 

 trustworthy and dependable, and all that they desire is what is right, 

 reasonable and just. 



For some time my conclusions have been that there is no calling 

 in life in which we do not find a few men who will, for pecuniary 

 gain, use dishonest methods, or what we might less harshly term, 

 sharp practice. But this is no reason why the better class of men in 

 the trade should not, to a certain extent, be taken into our confi- 

 dence. 



It becomes comparatively easy to enforce a law or regulation 

 where seventy-five, or a greater percent of the trade to be regulated, 

 are perfectly willing to comply. 



The very nature of our work qualifies us to know what is best in 

 the way of legislation. "We, therefore, invite consultation by the 

 members of the legislature as to the enactment of new, or amend- 

 ments to old laws, the enforcement of which we have in charge. 

 Our scientific staff is also at the disposal of the members of legisla- 

 ture for the purpose of supplying information of technical nature. 



INSPECTORS. 



I attribute much of the success of the department to the fact that 

 we have not been hampered by being compelled to take into the 

 service men who are not qualified for their positions by training. 

 The scientific nature and commercial importance of the several lines 

 of work pursued by us makes it necessary that none but men trained 

 in their respective lines be employed. Were we compelled to accept 

 the services of men as a reward for their political activity, much of 

 our work would, necessarily, be slighted or left undone. 



As in any other business enterprise, we could not expect men, 

 schooled in another line of work, to make good. Our state recog- 

 nized the principal that if the head of the department is not quali- 

 fied to select his assistants, he most certainly is not big enough to 

 get the work out of them after they have been selected by someone 

 else. . i 



