The Worthington advance., 1901-01-18
TITS GOV. VAN SAINT.
He Delivers His Inaugural Address
To the Legislature.
Advocates Legislation Reeartlinr Trusta
Revision Of the Tax Laws and is in
Favor Of Good Roads.
Governor Van SAINTS inaugural address

Governor Van SAINTS inaugural address
was, IN substance. as follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House Of
nepresentatives: Having taken the oath
a,orn or once a,t as prescribed by law. I desire
dntias etGee entering upon the discharge Of my
sratitude Tor the great honor conferred
up0n me, and In return, promise the ex-
ercise er OF my best judgment, coupled with
people of the state. While the legislative
ana executive branches Of the state gov
eanmeEt aai are separate and Independent Of
each t; otner yet by our mutual co-opera-
e. oion ana the exercise of our united ener-
gies. at all times working in harmony,
n.. the pest interests of the state will be
t; nefore US. 1t Is well to consider the ques-
defray the expenses Of the state ve govern. ~
ment. State Auditor Dunn, In his report,
makes an estimate OF the receipts from
estimate Is based on a tax levy of $40
amounts @ to sSs2s75s. and % {es the e"s seco%d s%
the first year. .2.sso. 900, and Tor % the sec &C.
rst Cs ~ year a. Of and for the second
riod of $444.4S6 This balance is availab Bile
aor and new , buildings. extraordinary repairs
aho aha improvements pr for the correctional,
schools, etc. This amount, in the estima-
ton Of our state auditor, under the most
aavora6le circumstance. could not be in
poses mentioned, without increasing the
tax levy. This should not be done, and
urge YOU to practice the strictest econ
Omy and the most careful investigation Of
every appropriation presented for your
hospitals July g. 1900. 1 was 3,5ss' an '1e ine
warrants the governor in commencing
n % {tul VN1o <C~
class of unfortunates. The buildings at
Anoka and Hastings. he says, should be
completed; fon9|1e and s5 he particularly calls At
noard OF trustees Of the above institu-
tions have asked to have enacted. viz, a
lazy recurring each county from which
week for each patient. The governor
thinks this would tend to lessen the num-
na.soro per or commitments. and would in a
presenting itself-demands for new build
ings: r.. a,,oa.,o
Importance and one that the legislature
must carefully consider during this ses-
sion. There should be a uniform tax law.
equally upon the shoulders of ali, SO 9th that
,1o one class Of people shall feel it more
than nrasant another: the Such is not the case at
share. The mechanic cannot conceal his
chest of tools, the poor woman her sew
AAS AlOI luc 1dIlucE Ills real
estate, implements or stock. 1t is the
wealthy, who evade their share Of the
taxes. the large owner of personal prop
This class of property does not bear its
Just burden Of taxation. and the legisla-
t0scFnG tor Who &c" could draft bin and have It
class of property from hiding, have it
placed upon. the assessment rolls and
aeter fe ha snt ued wou9 % be be n.6
Ahat fully one-half of the personal prop
erty Of this state escapes taxation. This
> Is true not only of Minnesota, but of 9TH
er states well.
I think the consensus of opinion Of all
~ who who have given, the subject of taxation
sof the opinion that revenues should be
raised for the state otherwise than by di-
rect levy on real estate and personal
believe that our own state in time can
and will! be relieved Of this mode of tax
atio alton: It,. A great advance could be made in
this direction If we had q franchise law
similar to the one In New York All
corporations operating under special laws
domestic and foreign. would have to sub
NIT to the operation of the law. If said
companies refused or neglected to do so,
voked. The franchise law, 1 understand,
sis working admiraby Mira IN New York. and
sioners. writes as follows: ~The first
year Of operation of the franchise law,
tnere was an increase or valuation OF the
property. including special franchise, of
s17O.OOO COO. This is placed upon the as
sessment rolls in tax districts where the
property is located and is subject to the
local tax rates."
will not discuss this subject further.
Our present laws are certainly very de-
predecessors in office. as We'll as State
Auditor Dunn. that tax commission
should be created for the purpose Of
as possible all requirements. Action
should be taken at once, so that said
commission COM might Immediately proceed
report bill during this session of the
the plan proposed by State Auditor Dunn
easily complete its work by Jan. I. 1902.
I know that the subject Of taxation is
Of The there IS # the d
that there should be none as to the ne
cessity of g. tax commission for our state.
laws from all the states and select those
which are best and then draft law that
would be vast Improvement over our
You will find this subject of a tax com
mission fully and ably presented in the
report Of our state auditor. and you will
do we'll to read and carefully study the
Equally important with the collection of
taxes Is a proper disbursement Of the
year. 81, 900 will be needed for current
expenses. Pc n and for the one succeeding.
correctional and charitable institutions Of
s2;isoo,ooo for the next biennial, period.
board Of control for the management Of
s all these institutio,ns; Such a board
non partisan in its character, the men,
bers receiving adequate compensation for
their services and devoting all their time
TO 13co olo~ 49, fHai~ I,,
ties, would be vast Improvement over
the separate board plan, and would re-
IN aTgs tS,s saying 3oo to the T. state
tine inmates. The board would be free
from local and political influences. and
and after receiving competitive bids.
I'm concluding this subject. we may be
pardoned for pointing with pride to the
effected by purchasing the supplies for
our state, nstitutions in a business-like ke
ma put Of fl far more is
better fed and better clothed than they
were before S,r be being IN placed under the con-
I do not wish to be understood as cast:
ing any reflection on the management Of
under our. present system: In fact, l am
satisfied that they have done their work
as faithfully and well as 1t could have
tenn; but the question IS. how can we dis
burse the vast sums of money annually
Tequired for these institutions In the most
, best interests Of the state? I am con-
vinced that it can better be done under a
single board: oon+ro, 10 M ,nnova+,on
Other states have adopted it, and from
all reports the plan Is working admir-
maSe nsS cHrea Wes 1aXs of
Z 1ngS of this plan as recently adopted