St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-08

| and that is to enforce the law.
Revenue and Taxation.
Probably the most important of the sub
| jects which should receive attention at this
| sess o. is revenue and taxation. The last
| legislature of this state enacted q new and
| complete code of revenue laws, so varied and
| comprehensive in their scope as to cover
| eyery conceivable subject of taxation from
| which revenue is derived for the support of
| the state and maintenance OF its institutions;
| and. while do not wish to pronounce upon
| the general plan OF taxation thus adopted,
| am, nevertheless convinced, from personal
experience while acting in an official capac-,
! ity, as we'll as by the opinion OF our state ana
| county officers, that in many respects the
| ambiguity and apparently conflicting pro-
visions of these laws are source of
great embarrassment to those who have
! to administer them, as well as OF in
security to the people affected by
| them, necessitaing q complete and thorough
revision. That equitable and just laws
| should exist there can be no question-such
| as shall fully protect the interests of the peo-
| pie and at the same time deal fairly with all
| persons and corporations doing business
within our borders. Our finances should be
! based upon sound business principles. The
| state should know approximately, i'll ad-
vance, what its incOme1s to be. thus enabling
| it to determine upon the certain liquidation
| Of Its obligations and the preservation OF It's
| financial integrity.
| The foregoing remarks with reference to
| laws. There are several of these. and the
railroad commissioners, in circular issued
! by them last August. recognized the fact that
! these enactmeuts are conflicting in their pro-
visions, ambiguous in their wording and in
| equitable in their application.
State Militia.
From recent disturbances within our state,
| it seems to be impossible that any one should
| ignore the necessity of an adequate state
militia. IN legisating for the militia you are
| favOrlng no particular class. 1t is for The
| benefit of all, Legislatures do not hesitate
to provide for the maintenance of all other
| state service, but they seem too often pos
sessed with the idea that a state militia is not
| requisite to good government, and, there
| fore, not entitled to substantial recognition.
| / hold that the state militia is q necessary
| adjunct to the body polite, and should be
| so considered and supported. Its services
| may be required at any moment You might
| advantageously provide for the establish
| ment and maintenance of a permanent en-
campment ground, at some accessible point.
Revision and COdificatiOn.
Our state constitution is a document of
| which we may feel justly proud. Its clear
| and unequivocal provisions will prove a
safe and satisfactory guide. Section OF
| the schedule provides that: "All laws now
| iii force in the territory of Dakota which are
| not repugnant to this constitution shall re-
| main in force until they expire by their oWD
limitation or be altered or repealed;" but
| the fact that the nature, scope and necessl-
| ties of an Independent state government,
! whose people are invested with sovereign
! power differ so materially from dependent
! territorial government which is permit
| ted to exercise only such powers as
| were delegated by the national gov
| eminent through congress, necessarily
| renders the question as 10 what statutes
| are and what are not "repugnant to this con-
| sttution'' one of much perplexity, making it
| necessary to weigh each provision OF the ter
| ~ al 10 hut hn rH Of
| ton before a citizen may know or feel rea
| sonably sure of what is ana what is not the
| law. Thus the people are compelled to per
| form duties which belong to the legislative
| branch of the government Perplexities are
multiplied and litigation courted.
| | am aware that the proper revision and
| codi6cation of the laws will require much
| arduous and conscientious labor demanding
the expenditure of a considerable sum of
money; but if it be a duty which we owe the
| people of this state TO provide for them
| code of laws consistent with our constitution
and i'll harmony with its provisions.
Agriculture.
The crops of the past year speaking of the
state generally have been abundant and
successfully harvested. This, in connection
with the comparatively good prices obtained,
has had tendency to place our farming in
terests in a more satisfactory condition than
for some years past. This is gratifying to
me- and, doubtless, equally SO to you. In the
agricultural pursuits, the introduction OF
sheep raising. as an addition to the resources
of our farmers look upon as worthy of at
tenton and study. These sheep as a rule,
are held in small focks, and the establish
ment of this industry appears to me as a step
i'll the direction of making every section of
our state wealth producing. l trust there
will be no hesitancy in the passage OF any
legislation which has for its object the fOs-
tering and reWarding Of all our agricultural
interests.
Immi grafton.
This is subject entitled to consideration.
Other states have derived great benefit from
persistent efforts in the way of inducing i'm
migration to their territory, and it is con-
ceded that no section of the union possesses
better lands more healthful climate, or more
encouraging prospects than North Dakota.
We are yet in the formative period of our
existence as state. Our future largely de-
ponds upon the character of those who are
to make their homes within our borders, and
the vigorous development of every industry
that will tend to give stability and per-
manencv to our business affairs. We should
not only welcome to our state that class who
| will develop and diversity our agricultural
resources. but as well those who, by the judi
cious investment of capital, VIII enable US TO
manufacture within cur own territory the
commodities which our natural resources
render possible and our demands necessary,
thereby developing our home markets and
at the same time increasing our wealth and
importance rs a state.
Election Reforms.
Several states have recently introduced re-
forms in the manner of conducting elections
| and, am led to believe, have obtained much
| benefit therefrom. There are sections of our
| state as yet but sparcely settled, and prob
| ably it would not be wise to attempt at this
time, to inaugurate change which would
| materially affect these districts; yet am
satisfied that in our larger towns and cities
some alteration should be made in the pres
ent system of managing elections. / am
| satisfied upon investigation, that what is
! known as the Australian system will not
| alone meet our needs, but III addition law
| providing complete system of registration,
| with q severe penalty for its violation, would
| be desirable and effective
Uniform Text Books.
| am sure we are not presuming too much
when we point with great pride to the whole
| some condition of our educational interests.
| The wise course heretofore pursued by those
| i'll charge of this important public depart
ment is cOmmendable. ! am an advocate of
| all educational methods which tend to raise
| the standard of public instruction and 10 Sc
| cure higher proficiency IN the student;
| hence have deemed it pertinent to call your
| attention to the subject of series of uniform
| text books for our public schools. Other
| states have taken cognizance of the need for
| improved methods. OF education. and while /
| am not now prepared to make recommends
| alton to you as to what is the best course to
| be pursued IN this direction, yet am con-
| WINGED, from investigation, that the estab-
| lishment of uniform series of school books
| would be highly beneficial.
| Whether it would be advisable for the state
| to purchase the books and furnish them
without expense to the pupil, is debatable
| question. However, / am of the opinion
| that were the state given the authority TO
| purchase the books and supply them at act
| ual cost, as is the practice elsewhere, great
| saving in the aggregate would result.
| Worlds Columbian Exposition.
| call your attention to the fact that the
| president of the United States has issued his
| proclamation authorizing the holding of
| worlds Columbian exposition at Chicago in
| 1898. This exposition is for the purpose of
| celebrating the four hundredth anniversary
! of the discovery of this continent by Chris
topher Columbus. The magnitude OF this