The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-11-29


Sneep IoIO0 90
SWINE lZSSo4 ~
noWn ioIS. V,S54S1S 0O
Capital in manufactures.......... 1873 ,567 90
Moneys and credits iiiso7s rs
Household furniture. 13S 500 90
STOCKS and shares.................. 1929 653 90
All other properly. .............. 2,s75.22O 90
Total .......................s 6e, 1857 ,4a6 80
PROHIBITION.
A majority of the legal voters by their
suffrages constitutionally expressed, hav-
ing declared in favor of the prohibition of
the sale and manufacture of intoxicating
liquors of all kinds within our state, it be-
comes your duty to enact such laws as shall
| but with the full spirit, import and scope of
the section. By the terms of said section it
| is not left for the legislative assembly to de-
termine as to their action, but it expressly
says 1.-The legislative assembly shall by law
prescribe regulations for the enforcement
| thereby provide suitable penalties for the
violation thereof" BY the adoption of this
section it has become part of the funda-
mental law of our state; therefore, as long
| as this remains part of our constitution
| every law-abiding citizen will be in favor
| OF its rigid enforcement. I trust this
question, i'll which the people are deeply
interested may have at your hands thought
ful and serious consideration. Laws should
not be framed for the purpose of facilitating
the violation of the spirit of the above sec
ton, but should have for their purpose the
! absolute enforcement of its requirements.
Thus, and thus only, can the true merits or
dement's of the question be tested to the
satisfaction of majority of the people
PURITY OF ELECTIONS.
The perpetuity of republican form of
government is dependent upon the purity
| of the source from which it springs. That
| source is the will of the governed. The bal
| lot box is the means by which that will is
| expressed therefore the protection of the
and fundamental Importance. A proof Of
the growing demand for the protection of
| the ballot is shown by the fact that meas
| ures looking to radical reform in the manner
of conducting elections have attracted such
universal attention, and stringent election
laws have recently been adopted in many
of the states. At the beginning of the year
only one state, Massachusetts,, had such
law on her statute book, which was largely
a modification Of the Australian system Of
| voting. During the year the legislatures of
nine states have enacted laws embodying
the same general principles. 1t will be re-
membered that our last territorial legisla-
tive assembly passed similar law, but by
some as yet unaccountable means it failed
to find its way to the executive chamber.
| The universally favorable comment upon
| the workings of the Australian system of
voting strongly commends it as worthy OF
your careful consideration. 1t may be urged
| that this system is too cumbersome for
many of our sparsely settled communities.
l would suggest this might easily be obvi-
ated by making it applicable to cities and
| precincts having certain number OF votes.
l believe the matter to be one of great i'm
pOrtance to our state and recommend that
! some legislation looking to the guarding of
the purity of our elections be enacted.
| RAILROAD TAXATION.
I most respectfully beg leave to call your
the present law providing for the taxation
of the property of railroad companies. By
the provisions of chapter 1O7 of the Session
Laws of 1889 railroad companies are per-
mitted in lieu of all other taxes, to pay
into the state treasury per centum upon
state. Section 176 of our constitution, how
ever, provides that ''the legislative assem-
bly, may by law provide for the payment Of
per centum of gross earnings of railroad
companies, to be paid in lieu of all state,
county and township and school taxes on
property exclusively used in and about the
prosecution of the business of such COM
estate of said corporations shall be exempt
from taxation in the same manner
and on the same basis as other
real estate is taxed, except road bed, right
of way, shops and buildings used exclusively
in their business as common carriers"
section OF the constitution, the present law
will need amendment to conform thereto.
1t will be seen by the provisions of the pres
ent law of 1889 the per centum of gross earn
ings is to be accepted by the state in lieu of
all other taxes upon all property of all
kinds Of railroad companies The consti-:
tuition, however, provides that said tax of
said per centum of gross earnings may be
accepted by the state in lieu only of taxes
upon such property as is used exclusively in
the prosecution of their business as COM
mon carriers. Therefore, all lands and
property, such as lands given in aid of con-
struction town site property, etc., of rail-
road companies not used in the prosecution
of their business as common carriers must
be subject to taxation, as provided in Sec
| ton 179 of our constitution. The ques-
ton as to the best mode of taxa
ton Of railroad property has long at
tracted great interest, not only in our terri
| tory but in the states, and various methods
have been devised. The aim and adjust
ment of laws of assessment and taxation
should be to have the burden of tax rest
| equally upon all Interests. l am of the
opinion that this is best accomplished by
the assessment and taxation of all property
OF all KINDS, except Sucn as Is exclusively
used for public benefit, in proportion to its
money value. Section Of the act incorpo-
rating the Northern Pacific Railroad COM
pany provides as follows:
That the right of way through the pub
lie lands be and the same is hereby granted
to said Northern Pacific Railroad company,
its successors and assigns, for the construc-
ton of railroad and telegraph, as pro-
posed. Said way is granted to said railroad
to the extent OF ECO feet in width on each
side of said railroad where it may pass
through the public domain: including all
necessary ground for station buildings,
depots, machine shops, switches, side
tracks, turntables and water stations, and
the right of way shall be exempt from tax
alton within the territories Of the United
States"
The question arises as to whether the ex-
emption of such portions of said railroads
as were within the territories is still in force
upon the admission of such territories as