The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-10
The Message of the Retiring State Executive
Briefly Reviews His Stewardship
NEEDS OF THE FUTURE ARE SET FORTH
In the Document Read by the Incoming Elk
ecutive Before the Minnesota Legislature

Gov. Lind's message was as follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representa- tives-The history of MinneSo-
ia spans but half a century. In that brief
time the persevering industry of our peo-
pie has converted an inhoSpitable Will
derness into land of plenty, dotted with
homes. Fifty years ago our population
was told in hundreds; we now have near
~ 100000. Our soil yielded in the year
1900 not far from 135, 100000 bushels OF ce-
reals. Our forests produced 1000 909,0J0
feet of lumber. Our mines turned out TO-,
000,G00 tors of ore, and the stock and
dairy products of the state exceeded
$40,0C0 ,GO0 in value. Our manufactures
including flour and lumber, Appropriated
$3.50, loco, COO. Our commerce is carried over
6,74 miles of railway within the state,
and our banking capital, exclusive of pr1-
waite banks, is $20,090,000. Learning is
disseminated by 1856 teachers, emplo yed
in 1903 school houses, which nave been
erected at a cost to the public of $l4,S00,-
coo.
Our past has been phenomenal Cur
present is great. The wonderful discov-
cries and inventions of the century Just
closed have left the present and future
generations an inheritance of potential
power over nature and natures forces,
which, if extended and applied to ire
service of man as. intelligently in the
present century as in the last cannot
IAN to produce, in state SO rich in nat
u: al resources as ours, lesults that beggar
the dreams Of fancy.
deem it conservative to predict that
a population cf 100000 The comfort
and happiness Of that population will,
IN large measure, depend upon cur
work al d the work of this generation
our state and our institutions are yet
IN the formative period. AS we build so
VIII future generations dwell AS we
state does not consist alone in the ma
ter!al wealth within its boundaries, nor
IN the numbers of its population. TIE
greatness that appeals to me and thar
assures ic 70 he
1att er IN Just and equal laws, in policies
That produce equitable distribution of
wealth., that build homes and conserve
Inc independence and happiness of the
people. Our free institutions have aided
US in obtaining these blessings in a
larger degree than any other people, but
our reliance in the mere forms CT gov
eminent or IN paper constitutions They
San only be preserved by a public spirit
tnaI prompts the citizen to exercise his
tranchlse, and his representative to so
Hlscharge his duty IS to guard every in
-.tefest OF the state and further the welfare
s OF society as a whole.
TAXATION AS A FACTOR IN THE
DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH.
A Just and equitable distribution of the
WeaIth produced by society is essential
10 the safety of the state ami to the
permanent well being of it's people The
Ordinary distribution of wealth is hro1e-ht
ABOUT generally without the interposition
Iapor and returns on capital If the indi.
VIuuaI were permitted to retain the en-
CIre proceeds OF his labor or capital so
OBTAINED, the distribution WCl1I6 he oo,n
pIete, but the state steps in and annro.
PIRATES a portion of it to the purposes Of
tne pNpllc py taxation, and the Individual
I5etuhA Tor his own only the remainder
ieIt TO him by the state So if will he
seen that the share finally remaining to
tne individual is determined by the nor
tioh appropriated by the state as we'll 2
10y the original division. 1t is therefore
perfectly proper to speak of taxation as
enc OF the factors in the distribution Of
WeaItn 1t is true that this factor, oDer-
YES slowly, but none the less effectually
~ our present rate OF taxation in tne
state, on the basis of current assessment
me taxes paid by the people in forIv
Years equal IN amount the assessed vain.
aIoh or all the property ir the state. If
Sccouht is also taken of national taxa
ION, Willch ct present rates substantially
OCuples the burden, the period alloU-ed
e me taxpayer to redeem his property from
me state is reduced to twenty vaarS
with such q continued drain on Inc 80
PIE, 1t follows that any Injustice or ne
euallty IN the arportionment of the bnr-
Hen Is pound TO exercise a tremendous
influence upon the economic and social
Sonaltlons of the people. Other thines
pemg equal, the individual who esc3nes
ELS lar proportion of the burden, wheth-
Sr II De through evasion or defertiva
laws or administration, has an advanta re
over the citizen, who is comnellej 70
olscharge his obligation, that is bonnd
lei 10 tel IN q!nerences of fortune and con-
sequent political power.
PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXATION
The policy of our tax law, SO far as
personal property IS concerned, is erro-
neous III this, that it places pra cticalIv
the entire burden on production and con-
sumption. l stated in my message to the
the matter is that cur state is today ex-
acting taxation on the little stock tools.