Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-02-12
A STATE DOCUMENT.
Gov. Van SAINTS Message to the
Legislature in Special Ses-
sion, Feb. $, 1909.
4 PAPER VALUABLE FOR coNclsENEss.
Urges tho Members to Prompt and Careful
Action In Revision of Tax Laws.
Money Needed for Pending
- Legal Expenses.

81. Paul, Feb. 6.-Following is the
1ou text of the message delivered by
governor S. r. Van SAINT before tho
Minnesota legislatures:
To the Members OF the Senate and
- House of Representatives:
You have been called together in ex-
cei4 9E1,na ahy session for the purpose Of re-
SION app 5nG report %rs of the Tax Commits
s ment at the last session. and for taking
a sctI upon the measures proposed by the
1t is matter of common knowledge
u umav rer many many years there has been a
.a;ssia demand IN our state for a COM
paTne G Clothed a With the duty Of pre-
creation Of such a commission has long
r reem urged by the public press, has been
s eGs" ana by many Of my predeces-
state auditor whose duties in tax matters
make him especially familiar with the
Yeur SodS our wa present tax SYSTEM
in approving the bill providing FOR a
commission. there being only eight votes
and fo1 a. ag am It, four in the House
; iS effectixs dg1{1g the present. res se? year
should complete it's work prior to the
nrst OF the present month.
IN compliance with the law the commits
proposed IN erder that tSe ren
port might be considered and its meas
u ures enacted into laws as soon as pos
sion before the constitutional limitation
IN order that the subject matter of the
report OF the commission and the meas
session without additional expense to the
OWNS, Owing to the urgent necessity of more
understood that If your general session
was shortened you would be called to-
gg Gthsr IN at.e extraordinary session imme
early opportunity to consider the meas
yop to a%S such
s scanfa to the understanding stated and in
the work OF the commission most thor
ougn and complete, issued my proclaim
htion converting your honorable body at
Ing citizens of our state were appointed
Hahn. Hon; H: ": childs, and Hon. G:
we're specifically set out in the act as
THE duties of said commission shall
Minnesota. Such code shall include
complete system for the just and equit-
h aot tanrS'a OF all forms of
be properly indexed and prepared in the
form Of bill or bills for presentation
to the legislature: Such code shall in
Commission: and shall define its duties.
powers and compensation. The commits
sion shall also prepare report and bin
or Dllls providing for any constitutional
amendments which may be necessary for
properly carrying out the system of taxa
ton On reeommendedtb by the commission.
and the limited time prescribed. the COM
mlss1oners Immediately commenced their
york o upon receiving their appointments.
ICED themselves with the tax laws there
in vogue; they also visited many
value; After becoming Thoroughly
and the defects Of our own system, they
set earnestly to- work in the preparation
OF .,. the proposed measures now SO Ia
has been done faithfully and he eons wS1e
tiously cannot be gainsaid, and for the
earnest. honest and impartial, discharge
unstinted praise Of the people Of our
state. The gentlemen composing this
commission are lawyers Of eminent abil-
pbc posons as ed fSe es zSh
tally for the onerous burdens which they
assumed. These facts suggest most en-
sidering their work done and refraining
from criticism until their proposed meas
ures are thoroughly understood: 1t must
placed upon the commissioners by the
constitution. This. fact made their duties
particularly exacting. and that. you may
which they .labored I refer you to their
report which accompanies the bills pro-
posed by them.
That the measures proposed are per-
feet, no one will claim; even the commits
sioners assert that a more satisfactory
code might be framed were it not for con
the measures proposed are an improve
ment over the present inefficient system
of taxation will not be doubted for a
opposition to the adoption Of the meas
ures has arisen, and has occasioned many
suggestions looking to the defeat of the
consideration. In my Judgment it is wise
to meet the issue now. TO temporize win
simply amount to deferring the consider
confront us. No time will ever be more
opportune than the present to meet this
great question of taxation so important
Judgment the bill is detective let Il be-
amended. If too drastic let it be changed.
Counsel among yourselves earnestly and
your wisdom dictates as proper The sug-
gestion that the matter Of legislation be
delayed until the constitutional limita-
to my judgment, for we have no assur-
ance that the people will ever remove
these limitations. Past experience DEM
our people persistently fail to vote upon
constitutional amendments as to make
submission quite uncertain: Hence. de-:
probability simply delay the considera-
ton Of the issue which now confronts
you. II the bill proposed is passed by
limitations are removed, then the law can
be so amended as to conform TO the new
conditions. The primary purpose Of tax
Ssar s to sSme AZ
should be EXEMPT; There should be NO
Should stsS be treated alike: laws should be be
so framed that every dollar Of the man
Of means should respond to taxation the
i Sv wealthy "a neiehbor. Under our present
system the comparatively poor Of our
state bear more Of the burden Of taxa
ton than the he, Weather classes: Such
is largely due to the fault Of our syF-
tenn. The greatest evil Of taxation is
t ns Rsau1 ah IT as aseare 70
1 psy his share 81 taxes Il he Is satisfied
ns r.. Of tie
framing this bill was to 70 provide that
taxation should rest alike upon the
e al s Is ye set y
Conditions frankly, fearlessly ana with
out delay. The code reported by the
commission will go very far to correct
these deplorable, existing conditions. Dur
ing your last session 1t was conceded by
ali that our tax laws should be corrected.
Many Of the other states have taken up
Z far In advance Of those which! now con-
troll us. Let US not be behind the, other
states Of the Union, but initiate their
This code, we are advised, embraces the
Il best efforts and wisdom Of other states
to full, equal and just taxation. Let
your purpose be to so legislate that taxes