Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-01-16
IT Is GOV. VAN SAINT.
he Delivers His Inaugural Address
To the Legislature.

To the Legislature.
Advocates Legislation Regarding Trusts,
Revision of the Tax Laws and Is In
Favor of Good Roads.
Governor Van SAINTS inaugural address
was, In substance. as follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives: Having taken the oath
OF office as prescribed by law, 1 desire
before entering upon the discharge of my
eneies to for afknowledge my profound
upon me, and in return, promise the ex-
erclse OF my best judgment, coupled with
an honest purpose to faithfully serve the
and executive branches of the state gov
eminent are separate and independent of
each other, yet by our mutual co-opera-
gies, at all times working in harmony,
served.
before us, it is we'll to consider the ques
ton of securing the necessary funds to
ae1ray the expenses Of the state govern
m ae5Gs State Auditor Dunn. in his report.
all sources for the biennial period. Such
estimate is based on g. tax levy of $40
MUS mills D4rla e oo the 1s, first year the sum
year So, ia, 1890; the disbursements for
the first year, $2,6SO,00O, and for the Sec
ono, 1880, 900, leaving balance for the
49,, .20-a balance for the biennial pc
Rod of s444,4 This balance is available
Tor new buildings, extraordinary repairs
ana ~, 1m n9 for the correctional,
charitable institutions, university, normal
Schools etc. This amount, in the estima-
ton Of our state auditor, under the most
eo1d not be in
poses mentioned, without increasing the
tax levy. This should not be done, and
urge you to practice the strictest econ
every appropriation presented for your
consideration.
The number Of patients in the state
crease Of 324 in two ' Years. a fact Which
warrants the governor in commencing
the state hospital plan for treating this
class of unfortunates. The buildings at
completed, and he particularly calls at
tention to the proposed law which the
BOARD of trustees of the above institu-
law requiring each county from which
patients are committed to pay $3.50 per
week for each patient. The governor
thinks this would tend to lessen the num-
per OF commitments. and would in a
measure solve the question constantly
presenting itself-demands for new build
The question of taxation is one of vital
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 all, so that
no one class of people shall feel it more
than another, Such is not the case at
P present tor the e., poor o. man, If he has a
share. The mechanic cannot conceal his
chest OF tools, the poor woman her sew
ing machine, nor the farmer his real
taxes, the large owner Of personal prop
erty. such as moneys, loans and credits.
This class of property does not bear its
tor who could draft bill and have it
enacted into law that would bring this
class of property from hiding, have it
there properly valued. would be bene-
factor to the state. am of the opinion
that fully one-half of the personal prop
is true not only of Minnesota, but of 9TH
er states as well.
think the consensus of opinion Of all
who have given the subject of taxation
the most careful study and research, is
OF the opinion that revenues should be
raised for the state otherwise than by di-
rect levy on real estate and personal
property. l am inclined to that view, and
believe that our own state in time can
and will be relieved of this, mode of tax
alton. A great advance could be made in
tbs this ID DIRECTION n if we had FRANCHISE law
corporations operating under special laws
could be exempted, but every other. both
domestic and foreign, would have to sub
companies refused or neglected to do so,
their charters or licenses could be re-
yoked. The franchise law. I understand,
under date of Nov. rs, Peter Deyo, secre-
tary of the state board of tax commits
sioners, writes as follows: 1.-THE first
year of operation of the franchise law,
there was an Increase of valuation of the
property. INCLUDING special franchise, of
sessment rolls in tax districts where the
local tax rates."
I will not discuss this subject further
Our present laws are certainly very de-
fective, and I agree with several Of my
should be created for the purpose of
drafting ;a law that would meet as nearly
commission might Immediately proceed
with the work in hand and if possible
renort a bill during this session of the
legislature. If this cannot be done and
the plan proposed by State Auditor Dunn
meets with favor, the commission could
easily complete it's work by Jan. l. 1902.
one upon which there is the widest d.
vergence of opinion, but it seems to me
that there should be none as to the ne
cessity of tax commission for our state.
Said commission could collect and collate
laws from all the states and select those
which are best and then draft law that
would be na, yast 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
same.
Equally important with the collection of
taxes is proper disbursement of the
moneys thus received. In round numbers.
year, 100000 will be needed for current
expenses, and for the one succeeding.
81 100, 600: and for new buildings and re-.
PAIRS $59oe maknE total for
81. 600 for the next biennial period
l am convinced that there should be a
board of control for the management of
composed of experienced business men,
nOn-partisan in it's character, the mem
bers receiving adequate compensation for
their services and devoting all their time
and energies to the discharge of their du-
ties, would be vast Improvement over
the separate board plan, and would re-
suit In large saving to the state an
the inmates. The board would be free
from local and political influences. and
all purchases would De MADE at wholesale
and after receiving competitive bids.
I'm concluding this subject, we may be
pardoned for pointing with pride to the
record made. not alone in the saving
effected by purchasing the supplies for
our state. institutions in business-like
manner, but of far more Importance is
the fact that the unfortunate and help
less people intrusted to our care are now
better. fed and better clothed than they
were before being placed under the con-
troll of this board"
I do not wish to be understood as cast
ing any reflection on the management of
our institutions by the various boards
under our present system. In fact, 1 am
satisfied that they have done their work
as faithfully and we'll as it could have
possibly been done under the present sys-
tenn; but the question is. how can we dis.
required for these institutions in the most
economical manner as we'll as for the