The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-02-16

INN TIL tuesday,, Feb
count 81 resales. Il is the veriest rot
20 Al that spec ulators hold any cons.
siderablei amount of the land certiti-
cate have conducted between fifty
and ixty sales IN the past four years
and have sold thousands of acres of
,landand I do not believe I sold alto
getner TO exceed six Or seven sections
to- pecul tors. ears ago spectators
did operate largely in State lands, but
riiaestenths Of the lands formerly held
by specula tors are. now in the hands OF
farmers. Spectators do not
buy school lands to hold and pay inter-
est and taxes n;Sthey buy the lands to
sell, and sell as quickly as possible.
The SPECTATORS simply transfer and
assign the certificates for a consider
alton. #;s. i5sf Ssas ~ 5&,@= :
Second: The bill should become
3l lf W q ma tier Of justice. Why lend
the school fund to other States at three
per cent, to villages, school districts,
towns, counties and cities at four per
cent, to banks at two and three per
CENT, and to the farmer at five per
cert, Why discriminate against the
farmer: ia. -:1@.sj5 5z:7=t sss@.s RI
Third / will not state the third
reason why the bill should become a
laws But If the bill is defeateds in the
senate and the white-souled Langum is
acand date for secretary of state next
year he will discover the reason. ii
The great majority of the holders of
State land certificates are poor people
people who could not afford to buy
railroad land, but purchased of the
STAGE because the terms were easier.
70 these people a reduction of one per
cent. means a great deal. A poor man
buys a forty acre tract at the average
selling price of $3.50; he pays Is per
cent. down, which is 500, leaving bal
ance Of $20l of principal due the State;
a reduction Of one per cent. in the in
terestS on this amount means saving
to him of $2.O1 annually. It makes
quite difference to that poor man
whenhe pays his taxes to the county
treasurer whether those taxes are
$500 more or 90 less. Let me ask
the readers of the UNION if I have not
stated the truth? How many acres of
school land are held by Spectators in
the three counties of Mile Laos, Isanti
ndsSherburne? [ venture the asser.
ton that there are not three sections
lin.the three counties held by specula-
tors. The same ratio will hold good
| allioVer the State. The people who
sing tha ill pretend that hey
Iare sactuated BY patriotic motives.
They are bound to protect the school
fund! The devil can quote scripture
for purpose One of the loudes,
howlers against the bill in the house is
or was connected with firm from
which collected 1000 for trespass
committed on school lands. Il do no,
wish to impugn the motives OF any
member of the legislature, but + think
| know from whence the opposition tt
this bill springs. AS a business prop
osition and as a matter of justice to the
farmers who hold State land certifi
Gates the bill should passeand become
a law. .t-,
There are three bills that should b,
enacted into laws: the reduction o
interest on State land certificates, in
creasing the gross earnings tax of rail
roads from three to four per cent. ant
the bill increasing the taxes on lif,
and fire insurance companies. Th1
first two measures have already rul
the gauntlet in the house. If thes,
three measures become laws the Re
publican, legislature will have made 1
: record that will be worth thousands O
votes to the Republican party mex
election. Leaving aside the politi
/ cal effect, each of the measures ar
meritorious and in the interest of tn
2 people. e.. - =, &,.sa. - Il
%z:. %4a.< X ~ 49,. ..., +
Some of the gentlemen who are OF
posing the interest reduction bill init
J mate that am urging the passage Q
} the bill for personal political reasons
that I will be candidate for governo
next year. Right. hero and now lie
] me say that am not and will not be
:: candidate for Office next year or an
:. other year. I have had my share
, The people of the State have bee
! more than kind to me. If my healt
|: permits I will serve the term for whic
, I was elected, and then willingly an
gladly step aside to make room TO
, |some one else. &;>.ss. ,9sA1@ 5s4t + Il,
!, stai *5% a. w Al %zsss5&a.y 1a.,s4 =.
) G. Z. Smith, formerly Of the food an