The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-10-15

Swamp for the entire distance. These
are matters of record in our public offices.
Under the assumed right to select I am
reliably informed that it was common prac-
tce for the agent of these railroad COM
panies to step into the state land commits
sioner's Offices; make temporary selection
Of swamp land, remove the timber from
them; and then upon some pretence or
other, give up the selection. These state
mcnts 1 am not prepared to prove, but the
evidence is on file in the land department
at Washington that hundreds of selections
of swamp lands have been surrendered. and
the bencticiaries have been permitted to
make others. Why was this done? AS
said in regard to congressional land grants,
the evil has been done. Untold acres of
state land have been squandered. A large
amount, however, is still left. If elected it
will be my duty and pleasure to give this
matter my earnest attention and best eff
forts Every acre that can be saved to
the state shall be preserved. Every acre
that is irretrevahy lost shall go on the
tax list and contribute it's share to the pub
lie burden Of the people.
TALKS ON TAXATION.
No subject merits or deserves our careful
solicitude in greater degree than that OF
taxation. 4 tax Is always a burden. If
it is fairly levied for legitimate public pur-
poses and honestly expended it is Il burden
borne with patience by the patriotic citi-
zen. If there is Il suspicion that 1t is I'M
other than public purposes or squandered
it becomes the grievance that is felt per-
haps more keeny than any other malfeas-
ance of public concerns. The power of tax
alton should be exercised with care. Taxes
unrelenting and continuous There is
perhaps no subject of such vital interest to
society upon which We have made compare
lively so little progress as in the matter
Of properly collecting and adjusting the
necessary taxes for meeting the public de-
J, I-,,.J.
are enforced, it is undcniably true that the
chief burden falls upon property employed
in production and upon the classes of our
people who labor with their hands for
livelihood.
Income bringing wealth r. practically ex-
cmpt from national taxation by the recent
decision of the supreme court. No attempt
has yet been made to subject it to state
and local taxation.
That this could be done by proper legis-
lation and amendment of the constitution
no lawyer questions. The feasibility of it
is {, subject which I commend to your at
tention. That the weight of the public
burden should fall most heavily upon prop
erty employed in production. and upon the
class of our people which is least able to
pear 1t, is as unfortunate for society as it
Is hradship to the individual. 1t should
pc the first care of the legislature to re-
leve property usefully employed as much
as possible from public burdens. This tends
ment OF labor and general prosperity Like
wise 1t is for the highest interests of So
cletv that those OF its members who do
the work that is most important and most
iaborious, should not be un.:uIy burdened.
MANY grievances now existing can be re-
moved without any radical cnanges in our
legislation by the vigilance of the execu-
1--WE and other state officers in seeing to
IL that none of the corporate wealth or
me many public franchises escape their
share as well as by enforcing fair and equal
assessments 0l all classes of property
aiisefs are not numerous in our ranks.
MOST OF US earn money by our labors and
we appreciate its value. No meritorious
puDhc undertaking or needed public insti
s sHaii sufier for adequate funds so
lar us we can control the matter, bur we
propose to see TO 1t that every cent col,
lcrtcd by taxation shall be honestly an1
economically expended and devoted to pub
nc purposes. TIE care and manasement of
our rnhlic institutions has with the growth
Oh IN" state become one of our most lmnnr
tant subjects of public concern. T'h,t snn,o
ot these institutions have been established
''na located to serve partisan ends will
pr"nablE be denied. and that these will he
source" Ut embarrassment and exppnso 70
INC 'l'izehs OF the state for years to come
is equally true. No state has be,n r,n,.,
generous either III the sconc or tho ov,ar,
To wh;ch we have established public instis
tu.lons than ours. That fact is a sourc. of
PRIDE ana qualification to us all but ~,
tme Is coming when it behooyes lis r.
see 70 IL that we do not overdo even GOOD
work. The unfortunates of society arc an
titled to it's sympathy and care hnt We
snoult not forget that the express purp,a,
VI the law as we'll as the dictates of n1,r
common humanity changes the Immediate
M II beers of the unfortunates family u.i,S
MS or her care in the first instance. so far
as theE are able. Cases have come under
my observation where people have hesn
sent sen to Institutions and made burden upon
, ,ms .aA PAYERS OF the state, when, in my
Judgment. their relatives and kin were NOT
ohly able. but should have gladly horne
the burden OF their cara Some legislation